Top M.A.C Shadows

I must be some kind of crazy. I just love eyeshadows. I want every one of them in every single color I can get it in. The obsession started with M.A.C eyeshadows. I remember in high school, distinctly buying Trax, Phloof! and Beauty Marked. Those were my firsts and I've been collecting ever since. I was lucky enough to be start my makeup collection with M.A.C which is a great brand with a huge range of products. I have since grown to love so many other makeup brands for a lot of things, but I continuously go back to my M.A.C eyeshadows even after all these years. The quality is excellent. Highly pigmented, smooth and easily blendable. Everything you want in an eyeshadow, really. They also last well on my eyelids. I never have issues with the color fading or anything. If you're unfamiliar with M.A.C, here's a little summary. They have a large range of eyeshadow colors from neutrals to primary colors and electric greens. The brand was created for to specifically meet the needs of makeup artists. So, the color range is extensive, the packaging is basic and practical. And you get great quality for a reasonable price. Not cheap, but not too expensive either. You also have the option to buy the shadows in a single package (as shown above) or you can get them without the casing where it is just the eyeshadow in the pan with a magnet on the back. You can then take those eyeshadows and pop them into palettes (which M.A.C sells). They come in different sizes - four, twelve, etc. I used to buy the shadows in the individual cases, but now I just buy them in the pans and I pop them into palettes. It's just easier and takes up less space in my collection. I have somewhere between 60-75 shades. I know. It's ridiculously excessive. I definitely have my favorites though and I wanted to share those with you today. I gathered my top 20 here with swatches and all. I do have a few that are "I would cry if you ever got discontinued" shades within that 20 that I'll note as we go along. Let's jump in…

What's in my Makeup Bag - Holiday Edition

One of the best parts of the holiday season is being able to get all dolled up for parties and gatherings. I swear the best thing about a party is the getting ready part. At least for me. That being said, I wanted to share my favorite holiday look for this season. These are the things making their way into my makeup bag for festive outings. It comes together as a holiday classic. Shimmering golds and taupes with beautiful red lips. Eye catching in the most perfect way.

My Favorite Red Lipsticks

I've never been much of a lipstick wearer. Like ever. But, when I do decide to get all fancied up, I love a red lip. It's classic, it's chic and it's bold with sophistication. No one can deny the power of a red lip. So, of course, I've collected a few over the years and these are by far, my absolute favorites!

Hourglass Lip Oil - Review

Hi! Have any of you seen the new Hourglass Lip Treatment Oil? I noticed it right away when it was released as it has a very unique package/dispenser for a lip treatment. The casing is a bit large for a lip treatment/balm sort of thing. It also caught my eye from the description. "14 essential oils", "opulent 24 karat, antibacterial, gold - plated tip". Say what?! No, I'm being serious. And it has a price tag to match at $42. I was really going to avoid this one, but then I thought - screw it. I've got really dry chapped lips all the time, I should give it a go. Maybe it will be the end all miracle product. Just maybe. So, I snatched it up and closed my eyes as I handed my card at the register. Ouch!

Quick tip - shimmer or not

Hey! So, did you know that shimmer isn't always a good thing? I know I know! I love it too, but only in the right places. Shimmer will accentuate a lot so if you have large pores or breakouts, steer clear of anything shimmery on your face. It will accentuate all the wrong things. Avoid the glitter packed blush and the shiny highlighter. Go for a matte look and keep the shimmer for your eyes and nailpolishes! And if you want to highlight, use a highlighter pen instead (like the YSL touché éclat) to accentuate your features instead of shimmer. Hope that helps!

Talk soon all! Kisses, J

Urban Decay's Naked 3 Palette - Rosey Neutrals

Hey everyone! So this is the big one. The one everyone is waiting for and talking about and obsessing over. I'm right there in the middle of that crowd, no doubt. I've been lusting after this palette since I heard the first rumor of it's possible existence. I was lucky enough to spot that the palette was available when at the very first launch date on UrbanDecay.com and snatched it up before it sold out. It is crazy how quickly it sold through and that it sold through again when it came back in stock. Insanity! It's finally popping up at other retailers online so you can go to Urban Decay, Sephora or Ulta to try to get your hands on one of these if you so choose. In store launch is still scheduled for December 12th. So, let's go over my thoughts as well as some nice swatches and hopefully this can help you decide if this palette is right for you or not.

What's in my Makeup Bag - 3

I absolutely adore looking inside peoples makeup bags. Is that weird? Whatever. It's interesting to see all the stuff they're using at that moment. To see how they're pairing all their items together and to see what sticks around from this time to the next time you take a peek. I've done a couple others before here and here, so I wanted to do another updated one this week with what I've got going here as my makeup back is constantly changing. Is that just me or do you all do that too?

My Favorite Pink Blushes

I have a thing for pink blushes. Seriously. I just love those pale baby doll pink blushes that look soft and sweet on your cheeks. They're the kind of pinks that are universally flattering and I'm obsessed with buying them. There's something about a perfect pink blush that if I find a good one, I have to buy it. Even if I have five others at home. They do have slight variations though. I promise you, they do. So, I went though my collection the other day and pulled out my top five favorites. The ones I keep going back to and the ones that have deemed good enough to be repurchased. Here we go!

Clarins Splendours Color Quartet & Liner Eye Palette - Review

So technically this palette was released for Summer (I know I know, I'm a little late. It happens). I had seen it online and it was one of those things that I kept looking at over and over again, but it somehow kept getting pushed aside. I've never tried anything from Clarins. I've heard a lot about some of their skincare products, but not much about their makeup. This palette was just so gorgeous though, I kept going back to look at it! It has this intriguing embossed aztec looking pattern on the lid of the compact that has a reddish bronze overlay on top of it that gives it this beautiful casing and reflection. Then I looked at the shadow colors and those are just so my colors. As you can see, this purchase may have come a little late, but I went ahead and finally purchased this and I'm so excited.

Favorites - November

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Superga X the man repeller - Loving these shoes!

Obsessed with my Superga X the man repeller shoes! They look almost like a Chanel boucle on the classic Superga silhouette. How can you go wrong?! They are definitely my Fall/Winter staple for looking chic on the go. They are limited edition, but Shopbop still has some available if you want to check them out.

Talk soon. Kisses, J

Stila Stay All day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liners

OK, so I'm not the biggest liquid eye liner fan. I tend to avoid it as much as possible. It's just so much work, you know? Of course, it's really all about practice practice practice. It's true. Really, it is. I'm pretty good at applying it now, but I really only reach for it on evenings out for dramatic looks. If you've kept up with me lately, you'll have heard me talking about the Lancome Artliners. They're amazing and my absolute favorite when I need a foolproof option. Easy application with a flexible felt tip. Recently though, I was gifted a set of the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liners. I have to admit, they're pretty damn good. The liner comes to an extremely fine tip so you can get an extremely precise application. The felt tip, unlike the Lancome, is stiffer so it won't move. I don't consider that a good or bad thing. It's more about personal preference. I find that I'm able to work with it without a hassle. It also applies smoothly. It doesn't skip and I never have worry about it running out of ink half way through application which is really annoying when you're on a roll with a line. Honestly, you know what I mean, right?! It also does stay on. It won't fade or move once it's dried and set. I've tested it wearing it in the shower and it doesn't budge. I think this is a really great one to try. They come in a few colors. A black, a brown, a dark blue and a dark green from what I know. I got them all in the set and I think all the colors look and work great. I would say that applying liner quickly or everyday, I'd probably still reach for my Lancome ones, but for a precise special occasion look, these are definitely a fantastic option.

Have any of you tried these liners? How did you get on with them?

Talk soon. Kisses, J

NARS | Guy Bourdin - Review

Hey hey hey. So many brands release holiday collections it's sensory overload. Seriously. But when I saw that NARS was doing a collection inspired by Guy Bourdin, I was so excited. I love art and photography and Guy Bourdin has some amazing photography. Known for his bold imagery with vibrant colors, his work is a perfect pairing with NARS. Not to mention his work is very provocative and sexy. It's seriously a match made in heaven and I really think NARS did this one justice. Very rich and vibrant colors. Ugh, I just can't even describe. It's so nice for the edgy girl that's not afraid to be bold and out there.

Random Thought - 4

Winter Skin Care - Body

Living in LA I'm so out of the loop when it comes to weather. I swear living here is like living in a protective bubble sometimes. It's the land where the seasons never change - as they say. It is, however, getting slightly colder. 50 - 60 degree weather. And yes, I complain. lol. It's freezing! With the change in temperature, I also see a change in my skin. Even worse when I travel to the east coast. I swear to you that if I do nothing, my skin will start looking like a 100 year old turtle. It's scary shit, I tell you. So, I make sure to keep tabs on things and spend the time to keep things in check! Thus, bringing us here to this post. I want to share with you how I keep my skin from being dry and dehydrated with certain steps and products. Let's get started, eh?

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Palette - Review

 

For quite a few months now I've slowly been hearing more and more about the Hourglass Ambient Powders. I'm always a bit hesitant with any sort of highlighting products because I do have combination skin so the natural oils my skin produces is more than enough sheen for me. I mostly use highlighting powders in the evenings when I want to go out and look glamorous and I know I won't be wearing my makeup all day long. I had swatched a few of the different ones in Sephora and was a bit iffy about them. They have quite a few shades all named after different types of light. Dim Light, Incandescent Light, Diffused Light - just to name a few. They are said to give you a naturally lit glow. I do think that they vary quite a bit between shades. Some look more natural (having less noticeable shimmer) than others which are the ones I like more. They're so expensive though too and I never really bit the bullet. 

Favorites - October

Hey everyone. OK, I know this is late. Like really late. But better late than never, right?! October was a month of new favorite and some old favorites coming back around. I'd say, let's not fuss much with an intro and just jump right into what I have been obsessed with in October. Click through for my thoughts on each….

Marc Jacobs - Lolita - Review

If you've been around here for a little while, you'll know that I purchased quite a few of the Marc Jacobs Beauty items. I have been loving the shadows and blushes so much, but when I saw The Lolita palette, I thought - I have so many neutral palettes. Why bother? Especially being that the line has some beautiful fun and rich colors to play with, right? Then, slowly, little by little, inch by inch, I was leaning towards buying this palette. I'd put it in my cart and then take it out. I'd swatch it in the store, debate in my head and convince myself out of the purchase. Finally I jumped the gun and did it on a whim. I am so so so happy I did. I will quickly say that I've heard a lot of complaints about the price tag, but you're getting 7 high end eyeshadows here so I think that's pretty in line with other brands in that price tier. Anyways, this really is a beautiful neutral palette and I believe it's very worth it. The colors are just perfect. I really appreciate that they aren't too warm or bronzy. They're a bit more cool, but not too cool so I think this could work for any skin tone. I'm personally obsessed with the shimmery light pink shade in the palette. It's gorgeous! I have been using it on the eyelid or in the inner corner and it just brightens up your eyes. The other great thing about this is that the three shades on the left hand side are matte, the middle shade is a frosty glittery shade (beautiful to layer on top of the other shadows for an extra pop on a night out) and the three shades on the right are gorgeous fine shimmery shades. The shadows are greatly pigmented and buttery smooth. They blend really easily as well. I have nothing bad to say about this. Honest. Scouts honor. Oh, and shall I rave about the packaging? I mean. It's just. Sexy, right?!

Click through for swatches. 

Random Thought - 3

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream - Review

Hey there. So, as you are all surely aware, the weather is getting colder. Duh! Now, I personally have the driest lips all year round. Oily/Combo skin and dry chapped lips. Go figure. I do, however, notice that it hits harder in the winter time. I had mentioned in my post all about lips that I usually use the medicated Blistex in the blue pot to cure and dry, cracked or chapped lips..... until now. I finally took the plunge and picked up a tube of Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream and it is quickly becoming a staple must have. To start, it comes in a tube. Like a big tube. Like the size of a hand cream. The reason for this is that it's really more of an all purpose product. You can use it on chapped lips, minor scrapes or burns, dry cuticles or anything that looks like it could use some serious moisture and protection. The product comes out of the tube in a pinkish tone as a creamy gel like consistency. Similar to vaseline but not as thick feeling. You will need literally the tiniest amount to cover an area. I barely use a hair of it to cover my entire lips. It goes on feeling smooth and moisturizing. I have found that if you take the time to massage it into the lips (or skin), it will really hydrate and smooth over any dry or flakey areas. You can also feel that it coats the area a bit and gives protection which is great for being out on a cold winter day. It really feels amazing as you apply it and is very comfortable. It does have a slight medicated type scent to it. It doesn't bother me, but if you're really picky with that kind of thing, maybe take a sniff before you take the plunge. I honestly just cannot praise this enough because I can feel it help my lips so so so much. It has both immediate and long term effects. It's the best thing I've used to really help my lips from feeling like they're going to fall off! I've been carrying this in my bag and my mom had a burn that was starting to scab and peel a bit on her hand. I pulled this out and she smoothed it onto her burn. It was crazy how it just smoothed over the dry flakiness and looked completely moisturized. It is really good stuff! I really only use it for my lips, but its pretty handy how all purpose a product like this can be. It can really come in handy. It's seriously my new favorite thing! Have any of you tried this?

Talk soon. Kisses, J

I found mine at Ulta, but you can also pick one up at any Elizabeth Arden counter.

Loving This Look - Tantalizing Eyes

Lately I've been obsessing over purples and cranberry colors. I think it's a combination of Fall and the Halloween spirit in the air. But then I saw these ridiculously cool flowers called Fritillaria and have been obsessed. For one, they have this really amazing checkerboard like pattern on the petals. Yes, that's legit. It looks straight up out of a Tim Burton film or something. Aside from that, I just loved the dramatic eggplant color that they had. Some even had this cranberry reddish purple color as well. And from that stemmed this look. A deep tantalizing purple/aubergine makeup look. I started with M.A.C's Plum Dressing (A reddish purple color) on the base of the eyelid. Focusing the color in the inner and center part of the lower lid. I also applied a small amount to the inner part of my lower lash line. I then took M.A.C's Nocturnelle (love that name!) and placed the color in a sideways 'V' shape at the outer corner of the lid and then took a fluffy blending brush to blend it into Plum Dressing as well as to soften any harsh lines around the edges. And of course, used it along the outer 1/3 of the lower lash line. I then took a little bit of Blackberry which is a deep matte smokey purple and applied it to the outer edge of my eyes along the top and bottom lash line just to give it some definition. To finish it all off, I applied NARS Via Veneto to the inner rim of the eye which always makes the eyes pop in a sexy sultry way. And you can't forget mascara! Armani Eyes to Kill in black is perfect for full lashes that won't get lost in the deep colors of the shadows. Moving onto the face, I skipped blush and just used the Dior Bronzer to warm up the complexion. Using a large powder brush, I dusted it lightly on the top of the forehead, cheeks and a small amount just under the lip to give it that pouty look. And finally, my favorite nude pink lipstick, Estee Lauder's Crystal Baby, went onto the lips. It's a beautiful creamy nude pink that is perfect for all complexions. I always have difficulty finding good nude type colors for my lips as they are naturally a deep mauve/berry color and this color is just perfect! I'm loving this look for Fall/Autumn. It would be perfect for an evening out.

Talk soon. Kisses, J

Click through for product list

Top Med/Full Coverage Bases

Hey everyone! I'm finally getting to the posts that were planned for last week. Phew! I'm just now getting up to speed on things as I just got back from North Carolina this past weekend, then worked a photoshoot (which was super exciting and fun!) and am now back to work and back here! A while back, I talked about my favorite light coverage bases and I wanted to follow it up with my favorite medium to full coverage bases. Fuller coverage foundations are great for many different reasons. It looks fantastic when you're going out for an event or party. It is also great for those who have very problematic skin that need a little extra help in this area. Remember that foundation is intended to be a base. The first step. This is just to even out your skin tone and be step one before concealer. I just want to emphasize that because you always want to use a nice thin layer of foundation only. If you apply too much, you'll end up looking cakey. These will definitely cover most, if not everything, alone (depending on your skin), but if there is something left uncovered you can avert to your concealer. OK, let's let started with my all time favorites!!!

Laura Mercier Silk Creme - Normal/Combo/Dry: I absolutely adore this foundation. It has a cream consistency and it is so very pigmented. You literally need a small pea sized amount to cover your entire face. It melts into the skin and feels pretty light on the skin since you barely need any. It will leave you with a luminous finish which is really nice for a high coverage foundation. It looks pretty natural for the amount of coverage it gives. I would say this is good for dry, normal or combination skin types. If you have combination skin, you will want to powder over top in the areas that get oily. If you have very oily skin, stay away from this as it will not give you the oil control you need. It will look great for a few hours, but require a lot of maintenance with powder and blotting consistently.

By Terry Cover Expert - Normal/Combo/Dry: I have a full review on this foundation here if you'd like to take a look. I love this because it glides on and feels like it just disappears into the skin. It looks so natural. Probably the most natural I've found for a med/full coverage foundation. It leaves your skin with a velvety satin like finish. It does have a definite scent to it (sort of herbal-ish). This again is fantastic for normal, combination or dry skin types. It contains hyaluronic acid which helps the skin retain moisture so it is excellent for dry skin! When you get to combination skin types, I would say that you would be best to keep a powder on you for light touch ups, but it should hold up pretty well.

Let's Get Inspired! - Gold Trend

So, unless you've been under a rock, you'll know that Fashion week happened a few weeks ago and I've been loving looking through all the makeup looks going down the runways. Of course these are Spring 2014 trends, but seeing all the gold on the runways totally has me wanting it NOW! The Dior show had amazing gold looks. I love pulling inspiration images and seeing a vibe all in one place. I could probably make inspiration boards/collages all day long. OK, back to what I was saying. What was I saying? Oh, yes. Gold is obviously trending for spring, but I kind of think that gold and metallics in general are perfection all year round. It's so bold, but in a cool and oddly subtle way. It definitely makes a statement, but not in the way cobalt blue eyeshadow does. You catch my drift? Yeah. So, I'm totally obsessed with metallics and golds all the time. I do think that the way you translate it might vary throughout the year. Not all golds are created equal. During the Fall/Autumn seasons, I love the darker and dirtier golds. The antiqued looking gold that isn't super bright is the way to go.

I pulled a few of my personal favorite picks that I think are great to wear this season. M.A.C's Old Gold pigment (if you're unfamiliar with pigments, they are just loose powder shadows with intense pigmentation) is a beautiful antiqued looking gold. It almost has a slight greenish undertone to it which keeps it looking a little patina'd and more Fall appropriate. It would be beautiful just on it's own as a wash across the eyelids. And if you read my last post, you'll already know that I'm obsessing over the Lancome Artliners. They are just brilliant and so easy to use. They released a gold color and I'm so in love. I can't get enough of gold liners. I think it's so chic to use a gold liner on bare eyelids with just mascara. My other love is gold nails. Illamasqua's Swinger nail varnish is a really good one. It's got a really good glitter in it that fully coats the nails. What's perfect about this for Fall is that it has a bit of a dirty silvery gold mixed in with a classic gold which gives it a little edge. 

Those are definitely the golds I'll be reaching for this season. What about you? What sort of golds do you like in the Fall? Or what other things are inspiring you from the runway?

On a side note, I wanted to mention a few things. I'm currently on a business trip in North Carolina. I really enjoying it here. Everyone is so friendly and sweet. Ah, and the trees. I love all the big old trees. You don't get that so much in LA around the city. I am, however, sad that the leaves haven't really started to change color. I was really hoping to be here just in time to see the bright reds, oranges and yellows. Oh well. Anyways, with all that being said, I am still trying to upload a few more posts this week, but bear with me as I try to figure out wifi (since it's only working on my bathroom counter...wth). I have also noticed a few more followers coming around this week and I really appreciate it. I don't think it will ever get old to see people coming to visit my little blog. Always puts a smile on my face. Thanks all! Hope to see you soon!!

xoxo. Kisses, J

Inspiration images from Garance Dore, Honestly WTF and Pinterest

Favorites - September

Can you tell I'm excited for Fall/Autumn season? I've been talking about Fall since way before Fall. The anticipation has been killing me, but it finally rained here in LA yesterday so it's starting to feel official. I can actually wear my boots out now without looking ridiculous. Yes! I love Fall and Winter seasons for playing with makeup. Summer is fun for brights and colors, but I always like to keep my makeup minimal as going out in the heat with a face full of makeup is such a drag. By the end of it you're half melted, feeling gross and just want to wash your face! The colder months on the other hand seem to lend themselves more to being adventurous. You can layer on the clothes and amp up your makeup. Out come the dark sultry colors and you're feeling all bad@$$ n sh!t. hah. So, I had initially planned on doing a few posts talking about things individually and then figured... wait... why not do a 'Favorites' post?! I love those sort of posts and youtube videos. It's a quick snapshot of all the things you're loving lately. So, here it is... my many obsessions as of late...

Let's Clear This Up...

With all the changes and updates I've been doing with my skincare since earlier this year, my skin has been quite good and happy. I've been really taking care of it and paying attention to what it needs. That being said, I have learned that sometimes you need to alternate between different products depending on what your skin is telling you on a particular day. Some days you're dehydrated, sometimes you have redness or maybe other days you're breaking out. Now, I don't have extremely problematic skin, but I do find that as soon as I get an ounce of stress in my life, I get a blemish to prove the point. As if I needed a reminder, right?! I also get blemishes during my time of month. Again, thanks for the reminder. It's really annoying and frustrating. It's not a constant thing, but during those times when my skin is feeling congested and stressed, I switch it up and add a few different things into my normal skincare routine to target the issue. Depending on how bad it is, I'll alternate between my normal routine and this or I'll just use this for a few days to clear up my skin. These products I'm going to talk about are my go to products for those times when I want to clear up my skin, calm it down and not dry it out. Let's get started...

This is What's Up....

Hey Hey Hey! I'm alive! I felt so distant not writing for almost all of last week. It's been so busy lately. I've been working on putting together my professional portfolio since I haven't updated that since I was in college. Crazy how time flies and I want to keep on it! I feel like I have so many ideas and thoughts for posts and I just don't have enough time to get them all out there! But, I'm hoping to get two others I'm really excited about up this week. Pinky promise! Before then, I just wanted to say 'Hi' and let you know what in the world I've been up to!

For the past month I've been trying to catch up with Breaking Bad. I swear it was torture trying to avoid spoilers EVERYWHERE I went. It was such an epic show, the whole world was watching. I finally finished up the series last weekend and it was so bittersweet. It was such perfection. I will miss Jesse Pinkman so much! He was definitely my favorite.

I've also been slowly collecting some goodies. I bought myself a mini instax camera. Basically like a poloroid camera made by FujiFilm. I'm obsessed and can't wait to start taking pictures with it. The images are the size of credit cards. So cool! AND!!! I also had a friend personally cart a tube of Hydraluron from the UK. Yay! I thought I'd never be able to get my hands on it and try it.

And last Sunday I made a trip out to the theater to see Gravity. I thought it was great. Very quietly suspenseful and I really enjoyed George Clooney's character. I've heard mixed reviews, but I really liked it. I could feel myself gripping the seat!

Oh, also, a little random side note... after months of practice, I've significantly improved my whistling skills which essentially means I can make wind sounds. Yes!

So, that's what's up with me. What's up with you?

Talk soon. Kisses, J

Random Thought - 2

What's in My Makeup Bag - 2

I tend to swap out my makeup bag often. I try to rotate through products so that I use up what I have because I obviously have way more makeup than I would ever need (I know, it's a real problem). Sometimes you can completely forget about things in your collection so every once in a while I'll go and change out one or two things. In doing so, I realized that things have switched up quite a bit since my last "what's in my makeup bag". Ergo, I am here sharing this with you! I've been obsessed with the Hourglass Immaculate Foundation since I bought it. I did a full review of that here if you want to know more, but in short, it's amazing for oily skin. Along with that, I've also been using my NARS concealer which has been a favorite as well. I'm sure I'll repurchase this again and again. For the eyes, I've been hooked on the YSL Classy palette since I got it. It's so beautiful for a smokey brown eye that is impactful without being overbearing and the slate blue color gives it a little edge. Really beautiful. I have swatches here if you want to see more on that. To finish the eyes, I have been putting a little bit of M.A.C's Powersurge eye kohl on the outer third of my waterline. It's a really pretty bronzed gold color so it's not too harsh. And of course, every look needs mascara. I have been using my Covergirl Lashblast for a long time and every time I buy a high end mascara, I use it up and never repurchase because although they're nice, they're just not so amazing that they're worth the price tag. So, I'm always back to using my tried and true Covergirl. The YSL Babydoll mascara, however, totally has me addicted. It's so good. I'm totally going to repurchase this one. I'm a little nervous that I've just cost myself by going and buying this mascara because it's one of the best I've tried and now I don't want to live without. It's volumizing and separating with a little bit of length as well. The wand is a thin long brush with short rubber bristles and it's flexible. Because it's thin, it makes it easier to get all the way into your inner corner for all those tiny lashes and really make an impact. Highly recommend that one! After that, I move onto my brows. I love Anastasia brow products. I finished up my Brow Wiz pencil so I went back to using the powder. They're both fantastic. And lastly, a little bit of blush to perk up the face. I'm using the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed. It's the perfect neutral color - like a rosey brown. I love the Tarte formula because it's nicely pigmented and it will last all day without moving or oxidizing on your skin. Then, a little bit of Dior balm on the lips and I'm out the door. I'm loving all of these products so much, I think I might keep them in my makeup bag for a while. When I think of it, this is actual a good representation of my current favorites. The color palette is also perfect for transitioning into fall. What colors and things are you using to get yourself ready for the colder days?

Click through for complete product list...

Ponytail Revamped

As much as I love makeup is probably how much I dislike hair. I've never been really great at doing hair. It's just not my thing. Most days, it's just left natural and down and other days when I'm in a frantic rush, it gets pulled back into a ponytail. I always hate how ponytails really do look like you didn't have time to finish getting ready. Or like you just came from the gym so when I spotted these ponytail cuffs, I was thrilled. They're just these metal or plastic cuffs that come with a hair band attached so that you can wrap it around your ponytail and jazz it up a bit. You look so much more pulled together without any added effort. I also think it gives your ponytail a little bit of an edge which I think is perfect for fall/autumn by revamping an age old hairstyle. It kind of reminds me of a real life version of Princess Jasmine's ponytail at the end of Aladdin when she's in that red outfit and has her hair up with the gold cuff around it. Remember that? Yeah, so I'm really loving this. I found quite a few at Nordstrom. They have different colors to choose from. I bought a black one for myself, but I think I'm going to go back and get a few others. They have solids and some in colors with gold trim.

Until next time. Kisses, J

Bite Beauty Cashmere Lip Cream - Review

Picture this. Los Angeles, CA. Tuesday. 7:30pm. Sephora. I'm killing time browsing the aisles of cosmetics and I come across the endcap where these babies stood with the word "new" written in red on the panel below. Are you catching my drift here? I'm sure you can guess what happened next. Of course I had to try them out! And I mean "them" as in plural. I tried on all six colors in this formula. These Bite Beauty Cashmere Lip Creams are said to be a highly pigmented cream to powder formula. None of them have any shimmer in them. I drew my top favorite shades of the six here, but Sancerre is my favorite. It's this pink/red color and is gorgeous. They come with a flexible doefoot applicator which I found easy to use and didn't need a brush to correct any mistakes. Just be sure to start applying at the center of your lips so that the most color goes down there and then you can spread it out along the perimeter of your lips without making a mess. The pigment really is highly pigmented. It's ridiculously opaque in one stroke. It feels like a creamy matte texture/finish. It just has a slight sheen from the cream formula. I'm not really sold on the "powder finish". To me, it just felt like a really creamy lipstick. It's actually bizarre that it comes in a lipgloss looking tube, but feels and applies like a lipstick. What?! It's almost as though they melted a lipstick and put it into a tube. Crazy! And, for being that semi-matte finish, I was really impressed that it wasn't super uncomfortable. It didn't dry up on my lips or feel tight. I also didn't find the need to apply a lip liner. It stayed in place quite nicely. I had been previously eyeing the Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipsticks, but I sampled it in Sephora and really did not like it for me. It actually felt really similar upon application to these Bite Lip Creams, but it dries and sets on the lips. That's great for long lasting color that won't rub off or move, but I felt like it sucked all the moisture out of my lips and they just shriveled up. If you don't have issues with lip stains or long lasting lip products of that nature, you may like that because they do have beautiful colors and great pigmentation, but I am personally really picky with needing lip products to hold moisture. On that note, these Bite Beauty Lip Creams are definitely being added to my collection. I'm genuinely impressed. I'm loving this concept and like the look of a creamy lipsticky product! Beautiful! Like I said, Sancerre is my favorite color, but they also had a deep wine called Port and a deep burgundy color called Bordeaux which are both fantastic Fall colors. I also thought the bright pink was gorgeous. I tend to gravitate towards that color all the time! That one is called Moscato. All really beautiful and worth checking out!

Talk soon, J

p.s. check out my instagram for swatches of all six available colors here & here.

** Update **
I did notice that over time, these formulas tend to dry out. I would be sure to screw the cap on tightly and to store them appropriately. 

Hall of Fame - Dior Eyeshadow

While I was configuring my drugstore eye post from yesterday, I realized that I have some definite holy grail, all-time favorites from high end brands because these were the ones I kept referencing and comparing everything to. These are the ones that set the bar that I judge from. I have a definite few favorite brands, but there are three that I go back to time and time again. I will talk about the other two soon, but I wanted to start with Dior first. I started using Dior products back when I was in college and have been hooked ever since. I remember the first palette was a limited edition one with plums and light pinks. I practically wiped it clean. These Dior 5 Color Eyeshadow palettes have been my absolute must haves ever since. The packaging is beautiful. They come in a velvet pouch with the Dior name embossed on the top. The actual compact has the 'CD' initials underneath this clear blue overlay that is reflective and gorgeous with the "Dior" name layered on top in silver. Basically, it's really nice. The inside of the compact has a layout to fit five eyeshadow colors. I love that they're embossed with stitch lines like a quilted bag or something. And when you look at the shapes of the outer four spaces, they look like cut diamonds. Like you could place it on top of a ring. That should hook in every girl right there, huh? But, it doesn't stop there. The colors are long lasting and nicely pigmented. They blend effortlessly and the shimmers are of the most beautiful. It's really fine and elegant. What makes these staples for me is that I can get a really complete look out of these palettes. The color combinations are designed really well that I get use of every shade and I can create a few iterations of a look in one palette. No color ever goes to waste for me in these. And, I always hit pan and finish these up which always really says a lot for someone who has so much makeup. Rosy Tan is my favorite from the permanent line. It looks basic, but it's so beautiful for a feminine neutral look. I always look forward to limited releases too. I hope they come out with some great ones for holiday!

Kisses, J

From the Drugstore - Eyes

I haven't been blogging for a really long time, but from the small amount of time that I have, you can probably already tell that I love high end products. I just love the experience in the store and the beautiful packaging and the gorgeous formulas. I really do believe that you get what you pay for a lot of the times. Sometimes fantastic ingredients and well done formulas are just expensive, but it's not to say that you can't find some great things in the drugstore. So, I thought I'd do a little series of my favorite drugstore products starting with eye products. I wanted to show here the products from the drugstore what I actually use. Not just show an eyebrow pencil just to show one because I haven't found a drugstore eyebrow pencil that I love and feel is interchangeable with my current high end one. There are things that I could pick out if I had to, but I didn't want to show things of that nature. I wanted to put together the products that get used in my day to day life. These products get used up often and are completely interchangeable with some of my high end products. I would recommend them day in and day out and if I blind tested these with a high end product, I'm not sure I could tell the difference because these work so great. So, let's talk about my picks and just FYI, they're in no particular order...

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector - Review

I have to say that in the world of beauty, we're constantly being bombarded with a million iterations of the same product. It gets to be slightly confusing. With contouring and highlighting becoming more and more prominent, every brand on the market has come out with shimmery highlighters. I've tried many and there are others that I do love, but the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector has to be my favorite shimmery highlight products out there. It's actually referred to as a 'luminizer' which is probably a better description for what it really does. This beauty of a product is a liquid shimmer. It comes in four different shades (I use moonstone) to accommodate multiple skin tones which is always nice to see. I'll get the fact that it's a pricey item out of the way now. It is expensive as Becca is a luxury brand, but I promise you it is worth it in quality as well as quantity of product. One bottle will last you forever! And then some!

Mendhi

I feel like it's been a little while. I'm starting to feel strange when I go a few days without blogging. But, it's been a busy few days! A cousin of mine was married last weekend so we had events starting on Thursday up until Saturday. If you follow my Instagram, you'll have seen some pictures from the day of the wedding. It was a lot of fun! I also got to see my favorite cousin (yes, I play favorites) who was whisked away after the weekend and I miss her already! I'm not sure that I've mentioned before that I come from a mixed background. My dads side of the family is Indian so this was an Indian wedding.

Drumroll Please

Hi there. So.... recently I was nominated for a Liebster Award. At first I thought, 'Say whaaa???". Upon reading up though, I found out a little more. The Liebster Award is passed on from one recipient blogger to another. Who knows where it really started, but the idea is to pass it along to a great new blogger that has less than 200 followers to bring awareness to us new folk. I think the thought of this is really sweet and I was so humbled to be nominated by two lovely ladies. I was first nominated by Lexi from Introducing Lexi and was shortly after nominated by Isabella from Pinkie Promise. Many thanks to the both of you for reading my blog and thinking I'm at all cool enough to have this passed onto me. Lexi is around my age, girly, super fun and was recently engaged (congrats!). Isabella is first and foremost a Harry Potter fan (yes!), but also talks beauty and all that good stuff . Be sure to check them out and say hello. 

OK, on with what this entails. First things first, I must share 11 random facts about myself! I have already done 25 random facts here, but I figured I could spare a few more...

1. I've never curled my lashes before

2. One of my favorite books is actually a children's 

book - The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein 

3. I like to wear socks to sleep which pretty much guarantees I 
find one hiding in the covers every time I change my sheets....

4. I'm 5'2".... Quite small

5. I can do basic sewing, knitting and crocheting. Clever, eh?

6. I started learning how to drive when I was 15 in a white 

1986 Toyota Cressida with burgundy interior. Classic

7. I love tea. It makes me feel like home so every time I go on 

business trips I order tea before bed. (Lol)

8. I need the assistance of glasses or contacts to see as I have 

awful vision (socks, crochet, glasses and tea?! I'm an old lady at heart)

9. I've always wanted to learn how to fly planes (how badass is that?!)

10. I have a lazy eye. You can't really tell, but sometimes you can spot it 

in a picture or if I'm really sleepy it starts to get worse and stray (such a nerd).

11. I don't have any tattoos (I'm not that badass. Lol)

The second part is to answer 11 questions given from the nominator. I decided to answer both Lexi's and Isabella's. Click through for the Q&A...

Random Thought - 1

I tend to have a lot of random thoughts. I'm sure we all do. So, I thought (another thought) that it would be fun to share them here too with you. I usually don't post at the end of the week, but I think this could be a fun little something before we all have to jump start the week! So, you might see more of these if all goes well. We shall see :)

Marc Jacobs Nail Lacquer - Review

You probably already know that I kind of freaked out and bought a ton of stuff from the Marc Jacobs Beauty line when it launched. I tried to stick to buying things that were different than what I already had in my collection to justify the purchases. (You know what I mean?!). So, when I saw the nail lacquers I figured, I can pass. I have way too many already! But then I saw some great reviews and it was so enticing. But I stuck to my guns. Well, you obviously know that somewhere along the way all of that got lost and one of those little polishes went straight into my basket and is now living at home with me. Sigh. No self control. I picked up this super iridescent dark blackish green color named Sally which I LOVE! It's gorgeous and another great color for fall/autumn that could carry over into the winter months. Aside from the color, the formula is great. Very opaque and has great shine even without a top coat. It was said to be inspired by the high shine of lacquered tables and it's so spot on. I also love the packaging. It feels high end with the pull off top and then twist cap underneath it. Also still loving the rounded edges that this has like the rest of the line. From what I hear, the bottom of the bottle is supposed to curve like a smile. After knowing that, it's all I see - a pretty little bottle smiling back at me.

Loving this look - Dark Eyes for Fall

Just between yesterday and today I finally feel like Fall is somewhere in sight here in LA. I love makeup in the colder months. I feel like with all the layers we wear and more buttoned up we are, we can get away with bolder makeup looks. Summer is really all about quick and easy with pops of color. Fall, on the other hand, is about the bold and sultry makeup. I personally love doing a messy dark smokey eye. I think to keep it modern and edgy, the less perfect you do it, the better. And not using false lashes, winged liner or going overboard on the face keeps it focused and not fussy. I started out here with Burberry's Midnight Brown all over the eyelid blended up into the crease of the eye and they smudged down underneath the eye from the outer corner all the way into the tear duct area. Midnight Brown is one of my all time favorite eyeshadows. It's the perfect cool toned brown with really subtle fine silver shimmer running through. You can get a soft sheer wash by using a fluffy blending brush (like the MAC 217) or a more intense application with a flat shader brush. I like to use the flat shader and then blend the edges with the 217 to get rid of the harsh edges. I then went in with Midnight Black eyeshadow and applied it to the outer corner of the eye and a little on the inner corner leaving the center of the lids untouched. I did the same pattern underneath the eye and then blended the black and brown just a bit so that there are no harsh lines. Next I took M.A.C's Coffee eye pencil and applied that into my waterline and smudged it into my top lash line. And to finish off the eyes, I applied Diorshow Blackout mascara which is perfect because it's volumizing and really really black!

To keep the face effortless and light, I used Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua foundation and then applied the Clarins Graphic Expression Face & Blush Powder to my cheeks and slightly up into the temples just to warm up the face. And last, but never least, I used Tom Ford's Pink Dusk lipstick which is the perfect subtle nude pink color.

This is a really bold look, but easy. The less you try to perfect the eye, the more modern (I think) it will look. Great for a night out!

Click through for Product List

Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation & Veil Mineral Primer Review

About a week ago (maybe longer) I talked about the By Terry foundations and raved about how amazing they are, but I had to caution those of you with oily skin that you might want to steer clear or to just be ready to touch up throughout the day. Which seems to be the disclaimer with most products you hear everyone talk about. So annoying and frustrating to have oily skin. But to be honest, if you have oily skin you are probably already used to blotting and powdering all the time. I really feel you. I have had oily skin for a long time. It's just now becoming more combo and I just get oily through my T-zone area. But it sucks to see everyone using all these different products and never finding the one that suits you. Or that will still look good after a few hours.  If that sounds like you, I think I might have a possible answer for you. The Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation (long name!!). This may be the perfect oily skin foundation I've ever tried. Hands down!

YSL Classy Palette - Review

Somehow my Sunday afternoon turned into a scavenger hunt to locate this palette. I spotted it a few weeks ago online and knew it was one I needed. Yes, needed! I've never been really keen on YSL eyeshadows. Not that they're bad, just that I never really gravitate towards them. When I saw this one, however, I think I might have drooled a little bit. Amongst their Fall 2013 collection, YSL introduced two limited edition eyeshadow palettes. What initially caught my eye was the packaging. It's very bold. The Classy palette (colors represented in the image above) is paired with black and gold packaging. The second one is a beautiful magenta color paired with the gold. Very graphic and so beautiful. Of the two, Classy is the more classic wearable color way. The other one is pretty too with navy blues and a pop of bright green, but this one is so my cup of tea. Classy is really a great name to represent the colors. I can just see the chic, modern city girl out on the town drinking champagne in a killer outfit wearing this. The colors include a rich brown, a shimmering champagne, a warm medium brown and a beautiful steely grey. They all have a fine shimmer to them, very sophisticated. They can be used both dry as usual or wet. Dry, they are pretty, but wet them and they really come to life. Rich and powerful pigment. Just dampen a flat synthetic shader brush and dip it into the shadow. They're easy to use, blend well and are just plain gorgeous! I know I will definitely get my money's worth out of this one! Although I won't want to throw it out after I finish it as the packaging is so good! I suggest that if you're looking for this, you call beforehand and place the product on hold. The only place I've seen it available online is on the Barneys website. I was super determined to find it and ended up going to South Coast Plaza in Orange County, hit every department store and then had to place it on hold at another mall that same day. So, I then drove to Irvine Spectrum to snatch up one of the last two at the Nordstrom there. Dedication I tell you (or insanity... take your pick!)! Anyways, it was so worth it!

Click through for both dry and wet swatches.

Alpha H Liquid Gold - Review

When I decided to change up my skincare routine a few months ago, I really wanted something that would help smooth my skin texture and help get rid of some scars and dark spots. I scar really easily on my face. Even if I never touch a break out, even if it's teeny tiny, it always leaves a mark. So annoying. And it's really hard to find good products to help get rid of them. It takes forever and some of them don't even really do much. So, I had heard about Alpha H Liquid Gold and thought, why not? It's had so many amazing reviews that I figured I might as well give it a go. I'm so happy that I did, because this will forever be a part of my skincare routine. It's seriously as good as you might have heard. It has helped even out my skin tone and has done so much more that I wasn't even thinking about when I purchased.

This product targets to resurface the texture of your skin, brighten it, tighten/firm it, even out tone, help with wrinkles and helps keep your skin clear of breakouts. Wow! Really?! Sounds like such a gimmick. I swear it's not. It's really helped me personally with all of those things. Aside from wrinkles as I'm too young to have any I can't attest to that yet. Ask me again in 10 yrs (or 30, if I'm lucky!). To give you a little background, Glycolic acid is a natural acid. It comes from sugar cane. What it does is loosens dead cells on the surface of your skin. Basically, exfoliating your skin with a concentrated dose. Getting rid of those dead/old skin cells will allow cleaner, newer skin cells to show at the surface giving the appearance of brighter and more renewed skin. I did notice the first few times of using it that I don't look much different when I first wake up, but as soon as I wash my face I can see what it did for me. It's sort of like you need to wash off all those loose skin cells and then you'll see the difference. I find that my face looks more radiant, pores look tightened and less noticeable, skin tone looks more even and texture is more smoothed. I think that this has evened out my skin tone more than any other product. I've been using this for three months and it's made a significant difference. I actually started noticing results with that after the first week or two of using. It works fast!

Ok, onto how to use this. It's important to apply this in the evening before going to sleep. It suggests using every other night which has worked well for me. You apply it to clean, dry skin. Dry skin is important. Dry your face after washing and do not use any serums or creams when you use this product. It needs to go onto your dry skin so that it can penetrate and work it's magic. So, for liquid gold night, use this and only this so you get proper and maximum results. I just pour out some of the liquid onto a cotton pad and apply it over my entire face and down onto my neck. It tingles very slightly. I almost don't notice it personally. I do, however, like to use my jade roller beforehand to get the blood flowing in my face and I tend to feel the liquid penetrate better and tingle a bit more. I feel like it works better that way. It's not at all uncomfortable to me. Then I go to sleep! I do want to note that it's important to use sunscreen the following morning. Because you've just done this exfoliation, your skin is likely to burn more easily. So, be sure to protect it and use SPF.

Overall, I think this is a brilliant product. It is a bit more difficult to locate in the U.S. so I order it online from CultBeauty.com. I pretty much would recommend this to anybody. It's really good!