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?