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

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!

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."

Face of the Day || Filming New Video

Hey y'all! It appears that my "Face of the Day" posts are proving to be quite popular, so I am going to continue posting them!

Today I filmed a new video for my YouTube channel–JessicaFashionFix about the struggles of picking a career after college. Check out the video here.









FACE: 
-Revlon Colorstay Foundation in 150 Buff (I wear this almost every day.) Applied with the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush.
-Maybelline Dream Touch Lumi Highlighting Concealer in Ivory under my eyes.
-Rimmel Stay Matte powder in Natural to set my foundation.
-Urban Decay blush in Quickie on cheeks.

EYES:
-Covergirl Flamed Out shadow pencil in Ginger Flame on the lid, then Urban Decay Naked 2 in the crease, and Urban Decay Venus in the inner corners of my eyes (Brightens the entire eye.)
-I lined my upper lashes with Sephora Nano Pencil Eyeliner in Black and applied Neutrogena Healthy Volume Mascara (which I don't recommend...review coming in a couple of days.)

LIPS:
-To finish off the look, I used Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm in Sunny Berry (Has SPF 30!)

**Click pink words for links to the products**

Face of the Day || All About Eyes

For today's look, I used the Covergirl Flamed Out Shadow Pencil in Melted Caramel Flame on my enticed eyelid and into the crease. I deepened the crease with Maybelline Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze, then lined the lash line with my favorite black ELF Cream Eyeliner. I finished the eye area with the Covergirl Flamed Out Mascara.

On my face I used Revlon Colorstay foundation in 150 Buff, Physicians Formula Concealer in Fair Light on blemishes, and Maybelline Dream Touch Lumi Highlighting Concealer in Ivory under my eyes. I did a little bit of contouring with NYX Matte Bronzer in Medium and used NARS Orgasm blush.

To finish the look, I used Covergirl Smoochies Lip Balm in #Sweet Tweet. 

For hair I did a french braid through the front of my hair, continuing the braid into a high ponytail. My beaded headband is from Forever 21.

What do you think of this look?

Xoxo Jess

Fall in Love with Your Manicure || Pink & Gold Glitter

OPI My Favorite Ornament & Formula X Intensity

Queen Helene Mint Julep Face Masque Review

Fall in Love February is all about taking time for yourself and treating yourself to little indulgences while working to become your best self, and I think this face mask fits the bill.

The Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque has been a staple since I was in high school. My mom used it when she was in high school and introduced it to me when I was in my teens. I have have been using it since and have convinced many friends to become avid fans as well.

It is the classic thick green clay mask that dries to look like a desert on your face (if you have used clay masks you know what I'm talking about.) It dries out any blemishes, shrinks your pores, and makes skin soft and smooth while also helping control oily skin. I love this mask because while it dries out blemishes, it doesn't leave your face feeling tight and dry afterwards.

The best part? It is only about $6 at the drugstore so it will help you put your best face forward without breaking the bank.

xoxo Jess

Fall in Love with: Vegan Mac & Cheese!!

We're kicking off Fall in Love February with the delicious and healthy Vegan Mac & Cheese!! I love mac and cheese, but have been looking for healthier alternatives (as I am trying to cut back on my dairy intake) and this mac & cheese fits the bill! Check out the recipe below!

You Will Need: 

-1/4 c Nutritional Yeast (Find at health food stores)
-3 t Fresh Lemon Juice
-1 1/2 c Raw Cashews
-1/2 Clove Garlic
-Pinch Tumeric
-Pinch Cayenne Pepper
-1/2 tsp Chili Powder
-1/2 tsp Dijon Mustard
-3/4 c Water or Almond Milk
-1 1/2 tsp Sea Salt
-8 oz of pasta (I used organic brown rice pasta from Trader Joes)
-Breadcrumbs to bake on top (optional)


Directions:

Start by cooking your pasta according to the package directions. Then add all ingredients (except for breadcrumbs) into a high-powered blender or food processor and mix until it's a creamy sauce texture. Drain cooked pasta and add sauce. Mix well then place in a baking dish and sprinkle breadcrumbs on top–this step is completely optional, you can eat the pasta as it but I thought toasted breadcrumbs would be yummy. Place under broiler for a few minutes until golden brown. Enjoy!!

Let me know if you want more recipes for Fall in Love February in the comments below!!

*Disclaimer: I didn't create this recipe, I found it online then changed a couple of things to make it my own.

Also, can we just talk about how cute this apron is?! It was only $12 at Homegoods and I had to have it! I mean, it will encourage me to cook more right?



xoxo Jess

Trader Joes Micellar Cleanser Towelettes Review

Inexpensive face wipes that are gentle, yet still remove makeup and dirt? Sign me up! These little wonders ring in at a budget-friendly $3.99 and are worth every penny.

I have very sensitive skin and loved the Simple gentle makeup wipes–but these Trader Joes ones are even better! The cloths are so soft and saturated with cleanser. They also don't irritate or leave residue on your skin unlike most facial wipes.

These Micellar wipes are free of allergens, alcohol, colorants and parabens–making them super gentle. I use these wipes to take off my makeup and then cleanse with the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. I think these could be used purely as a cleanser, I just like to use an additional moisturizing cleanser each night.

All in all I am now obsessed with these face wipes! I recommend them if you can get your hands on some!

What is a micellar cleanser you ask? Here's how Trader Joe's explains it: 

"basically, molecule clusters made up of one side that attracts water, and one side that repels it. When the towelettes are applied to your skin, these molecules break apart, and whatever isn't water (i.e., dirt, makeup residue, etc.) is gently pulled away from the skin." -Traderjoes.com

 

 

xoxo Jess

DIY Glitter Candle Votive

Hello my Do-it Yourselfers!

I found the most adorable (and simple) blog post on how to make glitter candle votives and decided to do my own twist on it.  See the original blog that I got the idea from HERE. I thought stripes of glitter would look cute so I busted out the scotch tape and went to town!

I like how these look like glittery sand–I love the beachy look!

First, I selected the glass candle votives I wanted to glitter-fy. I used old medium sized candles from Bath and Body Works that has nothing left to burn and cleaned the wax and wick out…voila! Perfect tea light candle votive. You can also use a store bought candle and just remove the label. ☺

You will need:

-Glass candle votives
-Modpodge
-Glitter (The finer the glitter, the easier it adheres to the modpodge)
-Smaller paintbrush
-Something to cover the work area (I just used newspaper)
-Scotch tape or painters tape
-Tea light

Method:

1. Cover your work area to keep it clean, I don’t understand it but somehow glitter always seems to multiply!

2. Make sure the outside of the glass is clean so everything will adhere evenly.

3. Tape off the sections you don’t want glitter on. For solid glitter, I still taped off about ¼ in on the top and the bottom of the votive so the glitter coating looked more structured. For stripes, I taped off the top and bottom again and then also a band of tape around the middle of the votive.

(Tip: for the middle band of tape, be sure to leave one end of the tape sticking out, it will make it so much easier to remove later if you don’t have to dig through glue and glitter to find the end of the tape.)

4. Once tape is fully adhered, paint on the modpodge using a paintbrush, do a fairly thin coat but make sure it is opaque.

5. Dust on the glitter of your choice! I used Recollections Extra Fine Glitter in Champagne. Be sure it is fully coated and no glue is showing.

6. Let dry then peel off the tape.

7. Place tea light into the now glittery and chic votive, and you’re done!