NEW BLOG!!

Hey Lovelies!!

Check out my new blog: www.jessicahearts.com!!

I am a little sad to say this blog is moving, BUT I'm super excited about my new blog set-up! It's the same blog, with the same content (plus new content regularly) and looks a little nicer :) I will no longer be posting on here, only on my new blog www.jessicahearts.com ! Check it out, I hope you like it!!

Target Haul! Clothing, Apartment Decor + more!

Click the image to check out the haul video!

Click on photo for video haul! :)

Garnier BB Cream Combo/Oily First Impression

I've been eyeing the drugstore Western BB creams that have been infiltrating the market for the past couple of years. So far, I haven't had any luck finding one that I love. The majority of them donning the drugstore shelves are too similar to tinted moisturizers that I just don't get excited by the prospects.

I grabbed the Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector Combination/Oily Skin BB Cream in Light/Medium. Let's start with the price–$13.49 at Target for 2 oz which is a little steep for a glorified tinted moisturizer at the drugstore.

This is the lightest shade they have and it is very orange. I would say much more medium than light and therefore is much too orange and dark for my fair skin. I was surprised how watery this "cream" is, it is very runny but does dry to a nice matte finish. It has a very light coverage, which is expected for it being a tinted moisturizer type product. Overall, it feels really nice on the skin and makes your skin feel soft and matte. I just wish it came in lighter shades because this one is going back to the store!

Happy July 1st + Update

Hi Loves!

As you may or may not know, I have been swamped in the process of moving over the last couple of months and sadly, my lovely blog has fallen victim to my lack of time. However, it's never too late to start anew! The goal for the month of July is to blog every day give or take a few days. For the next five days I am visiting my parents which means limited internet access (they live on their sailboat) and busy schedules. I am going to try my best to keep up a consistent blogging schedule for July!


I would love any ideas or suggestions for blog post ideas that you would like to see this month! Just comment below with your thoughts!! I did a little shopping today, so I may have a haul post up tomorrow for y'all! :)

See ya tomorrow!

PS Happy Canada Day to any Canadian viewers!!

Easy Pesto, Mozzarella, Tomato Panini!

Hi Loves!

I took a quick jaunt over to my local Target and picked up a panini press! Can I just say, I don't know how I gone so long without one! I got the Bella Chrome Panini Maker on sale for about $25 and so far I love it. Lately my favorite panini to make is an easy pesto, mozzarella, tomato panini on sourdough or ciabatta bread.

To start off, I like to choose my bread. For paninis, thicker breads work best so it doesn't get soggy with the cheese and pesto. I prefer ciabatta bread or rolls, but I also like sourdough! To create this delicious masterpiece, I start off with Trader Joe's Fresh Pesto on both sides of the bread. Then I drizzle a little balsamic vinegar on one side of the pesto bread and added a slice or two of the Trader Joe's Fresh Mozzarella Log. Add a slice of tomato then top with the other slice of bread with pesto and put in panini press for a few minutes until bread is toasted and cheese is melted.

New Apartment Mini Tour!

Hi Loves!

This past month has been hectic! I have moved to a new city and new apartment near the beach and I am so excited to share it with you. I'm finally all moved in and unpacked and just got wifi a couple of days ago (meaning many more blog posts to come!) So I've snapped a few pictures on my phone for a mini tour of my humble abode to share with y'all. A more complete official apartment tour will come in the near future, but I have been wanting to catch up with all of you in the meantime.

Manicure Monday: Chic Polka Dots

Happy Monday!

I'm feeling pretty chic over here at JessicaHeartsBeauty with these polka dot manicures that are fun, yet chic and oh so easy! I picked up a Sally Hansen I <3 Nail Art Pen in black (the fine tip one) this week and have been putting it to the test!

The first one I tested out started with a simple pale pink as the base (Essie's "Fiji") then I kept it simple by just making little dots randomly spaced apart using the nail art pen mentioned above.

The next manicure I tried was a beautiful champagne gold glitter polish (OPI My Favorite Ornament,) then painted a white accent nail (Essie Marshmallow) and added a few black polka dots using my nail art pen. 

Note: I attempted to do stripes the first time I tried this nail art pen but I could not master it. Therefore, I resorted to doing polka dots only. I would like to play with this pen more and see what else I could do besides just polka dots. 

What do you think of these nail looks?

xoxo

My Daily Essentials: Makeup Brushes

I shared my daily makeup essentials a little while back and as promised, here is my set of essential makeup brushes that have elevated my routine–without cleaning out my bank account. 

(Fair warning, these are all Real Technique brushes–

they are seriously amazing and the price can't be beat!)

(From right to left)

1. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush: Hands down the best liquid foundation brush ever, and I do mean ever. I have recommended this brush to at least two close friends and now it's the only foundation brush they use too. It blends liquid foundations seamlessly (say goodbye to brush strokes) and looks so natural while still giving full coverage. I also love using this brush with powders like my Bare Minerals foundation for a medium to full coverage look.

2. Real Techniques Blush Brush: I love my blush so if I can find something to make it look even better than count me in. This brush adds just a whisper of color to your cheeks and applies the color smoothly and evenly.

3. Real Techniques Multi-Purpose Brush: When I received this brush as a gift for my birthday last year I wasn't really sure what to do with it. It's too dense for a powder brush and not dense enough for liquid foundation. I've found it to be very good at contouring and highlighting and that is now it's official job.

4. Real Techniques Powder Brush: The newest addition to my collection, this powder brush may just already be one of my favorites. It's big, fluffy and so soft! It allows for a light dusting of powder to set makeup without looking cakey and also helps to blend out any too harsh contouring or blush. Sometimes I like to tap it into my [The] Body Shop Matte Bronzing Powder and dusting it all over my face for a nice tan glow.

5. Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush: My favorite way to use this one is for all-over lid color. It's a little more dense, which is good for packing on eye shadows making it ideal for lid colors.

6. Real Techniques Domed Shadow Brush: Best crease brush alert! The Domed Shadow Brush applies shadows into the crease with ease while still blending well.

7. Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush: Have you ever wondered how people apply darker shadows at the outer corner of the eyes? This brush is your ticket! It's pointed tip allows for precisely placing shadows in the outer corner and the flat sides help with blending it over the outer edge of the lid and up into the crease.

You can find Real Techniques online (www.realtechniques.com) or at Ulta stores.

What are your favorite makeup brushes?
Check out the rest of my daily makeup essentials here.

Two Ingredient Cupcakes!

Two ingredients...did I read that right? Yes, yes you did. I didn't say that these were healthy, but they are delicious and so easy it's ridiculous.

For the cupcakes I took a box of Pillsbury Funfetti Cake mix and added a 12-ounce can of Sprite. Mix up and spoon about a 1/4 cup of the mixture into cupcake liners. Bake at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes. So easy right?!

To make them a little prettier and (extra tasty,) I picked up some store-bought frosting then seperated it into two bowls. I then dyed one lavender and another light blue then put each into a ziplock bag, cut off a corner and piped icing onto each little cake.

They turned out so yummy, light and fluffy–not to mention, I couldn't believe how easy it was.

Face of The Day || Spring Look

 

Products Used:

FACE:

-Revlon Colorstay Foundation in 150 Buff buffed in with Real Techniques Expert Face Brush.

-Maybelline Dream Touch Lumi Highlighting Concealer in Ivory used to cover my dark circles.

-Physicians Formula Concealer Rx in Fair Light patted over blemishes with clean fingers.

-The Body Shop bronzing powder in 02 Fair Matte lightly contoured with Real Techniques Powder Brush.

-NARS Orgasm Blush applied with Real Techniques Blush Brush.

EYES:

-Sephora Nano Eyeliner Pencil in Black smudged at the top lash line with my fingers.

-L'Oreal Infalliable Liquid Liner in Black applied close to the last line with a slight flick at the outer corners.

-L'Oreal Butterfly Effect Mascara in Black.

-Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette Naked 2 & Faint mixed together and worked into the crease.

-Maybelline Define-A-Brow in Taupe used to shape and fill in my brows.

LIPS:

-Neutrogena Revitalizing Healthy Lip Balm in Sunny Berry.

I wore this look in a haul video I recently filmed, check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vOpxSIIrnU

My Daily Essentials: Makeup

 My morning routines consist of rolling out of bed, grabbing coffee and breakfast, then makeup and clothing time! Within my makeup routine, I have my daily essentials–products that are 

vital in getting me out the door while still looking my best all day.

(From top left going clockwise) 

1. Revlon Colorstay 24 Hour Foundation (150 Buff): *Holy grail product alert* I don't know how it covers and blends so well while still staying put (mind you, shine-free) throughout the ENTIRE day without ever breaking out me out! I don't know how it works and I don't care, I am just happy it does.

2. Physicians Formula Conceal Rx (Fair Light): This stuff is some serious business right here. With the consistency of a thick paste it conceals with ease and doesn't budge once it sets.

3. The Body Shop Bronzing Powder (02 Fair Matte): Most shade of bronzer are too intense or ruddy looking for my fair skin. However, this shade is PERFECT for my fair skin ladies out there! It's pretty light and not too pigmented allowing easy blending for a natural glow.

4. NARS Blush (Orgasm): A cult classic, this shimmering beauty affords the perfect natural peachy-pink glow and works on just about any skin tone! After all, there is a reason why it has a cult following.

5. L'Oreal Lash Out Butterfly Effect Mascara (Black): I rarely go a day without mascara, it ties a makeup look together and makes everything look more polished. Plus, the tips of my lashes are blond so mascara is a must for when I want to look pulled together.

6. Maybelline Define A Brow (Light Taupe): This is like mascara for me–having filled in brows just pulls a look together and looks more polished. I don't do a ton of filling in, I like to just enhance the shape of my brows a bit.

7. L'Oreal Super Slim Infalliable Liquid Liner (Black): I reach for this liner whenever I don't want to bother with smudging pencils or time-consuming cream liners (which, to be honest, is most days.) It's pen-like shape features a very fine tip making it a breeze to apply in a pinch. No smudging or budging here, just clean liquid lines that stay put all day.

8. Maybelline Dream Touch Lumi Highlighting Concealer (Ivory): I talked about this product all of the time. It brightens the under eye beautifully, no matter if you stayed up too late watching Netflix, without weighing your eyes down or settling into fine lines!

9. Rimmel Stay Matte Powder (Natural): To set my new face in place, the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder comes to the rescue. Never looking cakey, this powder locks everything in place and gives my face the nice matte look that I am always wanting.

Check out my daily essential makeup brushes here.

Spring Outfit of the Day || Girly Boho

Crop Top & Tribal Skater Skirt: Target // Handbag: DailyLook.com

Mint Sandals: Target // Necklace: Forever21 // Watch: Michael Kors

CLICK-ABLE LINKS:

Target Crop Top

Target Tribal Skater Skirt

Target Sandals

Manicure Monday || Blue Elephant

Hey Loves!

I am back with a Manicure Monday post. This one is lovingly titled: "Blue Elephant" by my roommate when I questioned her for a possible title.

This lovely ZOYA shade is a sophisticated blue grey which I think is oh so chic. It's a nice departure from the brights and pastels I've been wearing this season–plus it goes with everything! The best part of this polish is that it was nearly opaque in ONE coat! Impressive for sure.


What do you think of grey on nails?



xoxo Jess

Spring 2014 Makeup Trends You Can Wear to Work

This seasons biggest trends elegantly graced the runways, but aren't that wearable in the workplace–I'm looking at you bright orange lips! Today we're talking how to wear these trends without looking like Cirque Du Soleil at the office or school.

1. Orange Lips

Kicking off this roundup, are the much debated orange lips! To pull off this trend while still being appropriate for meetings or class, choose an orange/peach tinted lip product. You achieve a hint of orange color without having an opaque neon orange pout. Also opt for a lippy that is on the glossy or satin side which will be more wearable than matte. I like Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Creamsicle for a fun orange-stained tint that still looks fairly natural and moisturizes.

2. Smoked Out & Winged Liner

Save the full out smoky eye for after work. During the day, run a thin line of pencil liner along the top lash line and smudge with finger. Follow up with another thin line of liner right at the base of your top lashes. I recommend the Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeliner in black.
For winged liner, less is more. Thinly line the top lash line and add a little flick at the outer corner of your lash line. My all time favorite liquid liner is the L'Oreal Infallible Liquid Liner. It handles like a pen with a very fine tip, allowing you to have more control and create a very thin line.

3. Pops of Pastels

Adding pops of pastels to your eyes is a fun way to add a little color. For a subtle work appropriate version, grab a pastel liner instead. There are a couple of ways to have fun with this trend. You can thickly line the top lash line with a pastel liner and follow up with a thin line of black liquid liner right at the base of your lashes–leaving a little pastel to peek through above the liquid liner. Another way to master this trend is to line the water line with the pastel shade. It will add a surprising pop of color without overwhelming your face. Try Rimmel Scandaleyes in Light Blue.

4. Natural

This look follows the mantra "less is more." With pale shimmery lids (love Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Branded) and dewy skin (try a tinted moisturizer like Laura Mercier's Oil-Free or Illuminating one) this look is all about glowing.

To illuminate your cheeks, without shimmering like a disco ball, try Physicians Formula Shimmer Strip in Riviera Strip. Swirl a brush into the top three shades and dust on the tops of the cheekbones for a pretty glow.

5. Berry Stained Lips

Effortless berry-stained lips were a staple on the runway this season–and are versatile and suitable for the workplace. These berry balms hydrate your lips and give a nice flush of color while still looking natural. Try L'Oreal Colour Riche Balm in Plush Plum for a glossier look or Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm in Sunny Berry for a more natural sheer color.

Which of these trends will you be trying out?

Current Nail Polish Favs!

 I am all about the blues right now! It started with my obsession with pale pastel blue–an understated chic–and has moved to electric denim colors–so fun for spring!

Okay this looks like a hodge podge of colors, yet I have been loving each of these colors on nails this spring (separate manicures of course.) As you can tell I'm a little all over the place with nails colors in the spring. On cloudy rainy days I still love my dark oxblood red polish, but when the sun starts shining I prefer pastel pinks and mint. China Glaze in Flip Flop Fantasy has been fun to use as an accent nail color to liven up dark manicures.

What colors are you loving as we transition into spring??

xoxo Jess

Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara Review

Claims:

"This lash-enhancing mascara instantly builds lash volume by 400%. The patent-pending formula with a touch of olive oil penetrates and helps plump the core of each and every lash. The Visible Volume Brush coats and builds even the smallest lashes with rich, volume-building color. No clumps, smudging or flaking!

Healthy Volume® mascara rinses clean with any Neutrogena® makeup remover or with soap and water. Get beautiful, conditioned and volumized lashes with the sweep of a wand." -Neutrogena

Pros:

• It may have made my eyelashes a little longer and thicker after continuous use, but nothing dramatic.
• The packaging is nice and sleek.

Cons:

• It didn't build up volume...at all. My eyelashes looked almost the same as when I wasn't wearing mascara.
• For some reason it would not coat the tips of my lashes. The mascara would somehow just slide right off (problematic for my slightly blonde-tipped lashes.)
• Couldn't hold a curl...and I have naturally curly lashes so it was surprising when mid-day my lashes looked flat.
• My final complaint is how difficult it was to remove! I even had the non-waterproof version, but it just didn't budge. When I thought I finally removed all of the mascara, I would still wake up with raccoon eyes.

Bottom Line: Sadly, I would not purchase this mascara again. I tossed mine after about a week and a half because it was really not working for me. Sorry Neutrogena, just not a fan of this one!

Online Shopping Hidden Gems

Super cute and affordable clothing and accessories await you at these lesser known, yet still top-notch online shops. Delve into our picks for the best sites that are offering seriously cute and one-of-a-kind buys that won't break the bank!

Spool No. 72

With super trendy and adorable sweaters, dresses, tops, boots and more, Spool No. 72 will have you running for your wallet. Featuring casual, vintage yet chic items, this shop sells out fast and boasts new apparel frequently -- making sure you're getting a one-of-a-kind steal. If you find something you like, snag it before it sells out!

Esther

Have you ever seen a fabulous dress in a magazine and thought, "where do I find a dress that amazing?" Check out this fabulous site. With dresses that look fit for the red carpet with a much smaller price tag. This company is based in Australia but fret not, they offer free worldwide shipping to any country.

Tobi

Tobi features items on sale daily, and not just clearance items, most items are marked down by 30% every day. From trendy fashion-forward tops and dresses to classic accessories and outerwear, Tobi has apparel for any style at a discounted price.

DailyLook

*Obsession alert* Great quality meets fabulous styles for an inexpensive and stylish shopping experience. This is your one-stop-shop for great quality items that hit the latest trends with ease. Right now they are having a discounts on items with a candy corn by them for Halloween. Plus, you get 20% off your first order! What's not to love.

HauteLook

HauteLook features designer apparel, accessories and home decor at a fraction of the cost (we're talking more than 50% off in most cases). How it works: HauteLook puts up a new designer event for a set amount of days and you can shop the deals until they're gone (or when the set amount of days are up). After that a new designer sale takes its place. Shop quickly, some sales sell out within hours.

Top Notch Beauty + Fashion Apps!

Beauty and fashion meets technology to create irresistibly trendy apps for smartphones. There are countless beauty and fashion apps out there, but here are the top notch (not to mention free) finds every beauty and fashion lover will go gaga over.

1. Beautylish

This ultra-handy app is a one-stop shop for all things beauty; From online shopping for high-end beauty products to useful beauty articles and videos to reviews and more.

Pros:
-Useful articles about a multitude of beauty-related topics.
-Access to so many reviews of products all in one place.
-There are beauty forums to talk to other users to get advice and discuss.
-You can shop!

Cons:
-None!

2. Polyvore

A fashion haven on the web, Polyvore offers an app that might be even more amazing than its web counterpart. Polyvore is a site (and app) that showcases different collections of fashionable outfits that users put together. You can then tap on an outfit collection and it will show each piece of clothing, the price, where they're from, a link to buy them, and the capability to like, comment and share the outfit. Whether you're looking to purchase or just for fashion inspiration, this app is a must!

           Pros:                                                                                      Cons:

-So much fashion inspiration.                                                -You may end up with a lighter wallet due

-Easy to buy the items you're coveting.                                  all the amazing items.

3. Trendabl

Basically Instagram but solely for fashion, Trendabl lets users post pictures of their outfits and tag their pictures with the designers/stores the clothing is from. Other users can tap the tags to see all the pictures that have been tagged with that specific designer. You can also heart, comment, repost and share pictures for fashion inspiration. This app also features a shopping section, but it is minimal.

Pros:
-Many designers post their own pictures of outfits.
-Fun to see clothing items organized by designers.
-Great fashion inspiration.

Cons:
-Minimal shopping capabilities.
-Not all clothing is tagged with designers, meaning some swoon-worthy items you see may be hard to find if not tagged.

4. Swackett

Have you ever looked at the weather forecast and thought: okay well I know what temperature it is going to be, but what do I actually wear? Swackett is the answer! Swackett shows what type of clothing is ideal for both men and women depending on the toasty, or chilly, temps outside. Swackett takes it a step further with a UV index and describes what essentials are needed for the day i.e. sunscreen, sunglasses, umbrella etc.

Pros:
-Tells you the type of apparel to wear.
-Shows the weather forecast.
-Might be good if you are vacationing and don't know exactly what the weather will be like.

Cons:
-It won't know what's in your closet so you still have to figure out an outfit to wear.

5. Sephora

This one isn't much of a surprise, but this app is amazing for any of the Sephora lovers out there. Users can shop, read reviews, get exclusive mobile offers, check out the latest hot products and more. It even has the capabilities to scan a products barcode in the store and will display product information and reviews. This app is your own personal shopping guide to Sephora.

Pros:

-Super easy to use and navigate.

-You can buy all Sephora products on the app.

-Assists you in making better informed decisions about the products before you buy them. (Nobody wants to shell out a hefty sum of money for products that don't work!)

-Allows you to manage your beauty insider account.

-You can add products you want to purchase to a virtual shopping list.

Cons:

-Only displays the products carried by Sephora.

There we have it! These beauty and fashion apps will have you styling in no time.

Ombrè Manicure

The Line-Up: (L-R) Essie "Marshmallow," Essie "Fiji," Essie "Mod Podge," Sephora by OPI "It's Somewhere in the Purse," Essie "Wicked."