empties & re-fills

It is time for the changing of the guard in my beauty cabinet & I wanted to share the products that I have recently used up & those that I just re-filled. 9 of these products are ones that I LOVE & #10 is one that I'm dying to try. Check out my go-to products, and let everyone know in the comments what you have been loving in your beauty routine now that Spring is here (for most of us!)

Empties:
1. Jergens Natural Glow (+firming) lotion - I use this lotion every few days to keep my Summer glow going without having to fry my skin, & have actually been using it since February, so that when it was time to bare my legs, I wouldn't blind strangers with my ghostly white stems! I recently ran out of my current stock & will definitely be re-ordering! Pros: light scent (not the usual self-tanner smell), builds over time, also a really great lotion.

2. Murad time release Acne Cleanser - really the whole "Anti-Aging Acne" line from Murad is amazing, & after using it consistently for the past year, I really can't remember the last time I had a pimple + my skin has never felt healthier! I was a little surprised that it has zero lather, but I use it with my Clarisonic & it feels very refreshing.

3. Davines Hair refresher "dry cleansing mist" - Ok, I use a LOT of dry shampoo (anything for those extra 15 minutes of sleep!) & actually have different products for different days of my non-hair washing routine. This is my light dry shampoo (see #4 below for the big guns). It really is what the name implies - a nice refresher for your hair after a day or so of going dirty. As a brunette, I have to be weary of dry shampoo turning my hair grey, & this one goes on with very little color, and absorbs immediately. The scent is pretty incredible too. 

4. Klorane dry shampoo - this is my heavy-duty dry shampoo, for days when I have some serious grease to contend with! It is much thicker than the Davines product above, & as such soaks up any grime that I'm dealing with (my hair gets pretty oily by day 2). This is also a great product for giving my hair "hold" if I'm trying to rock an up-do or bun. 

5. Essie "madmoiselle" - I don't know if I have ever used a nail polish bottle all the way to the bottom, but I have been applying this shade to my nails weekly for many months now, & it has finally run dry! I love this color (the perfect light pink), but am actually looking for a new light pink - any suggestions??

Re-fills:
6. Vaseline Lip Therapy "rose lip" lip balm tin - I actually can't remember who gave me the tip (if it's you, holler at me so you can get your much deserved credit), but several years ago I was dealing with some scary chapped Winter lips, & they suggested slathering on Vaseline every night before bed. I now have a huge tub beside my bed, & smaller tins in every bag/desk that I frequent! After seeing these adorable tins, I just couldn't help but add to my collection. The "rosy lips" has a great smell & gives a nice pink tint!

7. It Cosmetics "Vitality Brightening Anti-Aging Face Disk" - I fell in LOVE with It Cosmetics last year at the Southern Blog Society conference & have been almost exclusively using their products in my daily-routine. My favorites include the Bye-Bye under eye concealer &
Bye-Bye pores pressed finishing powder, but the top dog in my make-up bag (like, stranded on a deserted island can only have 1 product item) is the "Vitality Brightening Disk". It is a bronzer/blush/highligher all contained in 1 slim compact, & the colors are so flattering! I totally re-ordered this before I ran all the way out because I couldn't stand the thought of going without it, for even 1 day!

8. Murad active radiance serum -  from the Murad "Environmental Shield" line, this serum is my go-to during Summer months, but I have actually been using it all year. Along with the eye lift firming treatment and hydro-dynamic moisturizer, Murad calls this trio their "model off duty look" - & I agree that these three products make me look rested, dewey & fresh!

9. St. Ives Nourish & Soothe - I love & trust the St. Ives brand to make products that not only fit my needs, but also fit into my lifestyle. This lotion is divine - super moisturizing, without being too thick, absorbs quickly, & smells great! I use their spray lotion during Summer months, but as I am trying to get rid of my Winter alligator skin, this is the perfect formulation for right now!

10. A want to try: The Pixi "GLOW" tonic has been getting rave reviews & with packaging that cute, I don't think my will power will last much longer! Have you tried it?

Shop all the products mentioned in this post here:

Better Everyday

I am excited to announce that I am an ambassador for Murad. I have long struggled with taking care of my skin, with consistency being my biggest issue. However, I am in good hands now! The Murad team has set me up with a great selection of products, aimed at clearing up my blackheads, preventing breakouts, & starting on some preventative wrinkle treatments.

Below is the line-up I am currently using & I can't wait to share my progress along the way!

Products: 1. Daily Cleansing Foam | 2. Blackhead remover & pore sealer | 3. Anti-aging moisturizer | 4. Complete Reform with Glyco Firming Complex | 5. Acne Clearing Solution

For blackheads, get started with the Murad Pore Reforming System
Suffering from acne, try the Murad Acne Treatment Regimen

Updates on my skin progress soon!

Daisy Power

It's nearing Summer time which means that I want to wear less make-up, but my skin isn't quite ready for it's naked debut. Humidity + make-up isn't a pretty sight, so I'm always looking for ways to lighten my routine and freshen up my complexion.

I can't wait to share with you what I have found - the power of the daisy, Nature's Retoucher! I've been using the daisy extract powered Burt's Bees brightening treatment for 4 weeks & (if I do say so myself), my face is luminous!

Your Summer brightening toolkit: 1. Brightening Daily Cleanser // 2. Brightening Refining Tonic // 3. Brightening Eye Treatment // 4. Dark Spot Corrector // 5. Even-Tone Moisturizing Cream. 

Make this your brightest Summer yet! The line of brightening products from Burt's Bees is "clinically proven to help improve the appearance of surface dullness", harnessing the power of the daisy! Daisy extract helps reveal a more even skin tone in as few as 4 weeks & a multi fruit complex effectively removes dirt oil and makeup. Make it part of your daily regimen for a brighter and more even complexion, naturally. 

Check out my Instagram feed to see my brightening results after 4 weeks of use & read more about these great products at Burtsbees.com & find out more on the Daisy, Nature's Retoucher. 

Find Burt's Bees on social media: Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Burt's Bees via Burst Media. The opinions and text are all mine.

Budget Friendly Wedding Makeup

Hi, Here & Now readers!  I blog over at Rebecca Lately, where I write about my own personal style, my favorite makeup products, and my thrifty finds!  I also have a beauty YouTube channel.  While Jessica is away on her amazing honeymoon, I offered to create an affordable wedding makeup look. And while I geared this tutorial towards weddings, this would definitely be a great look to wear to work or on a date.

I am so excited to bring you an affordable wedding makeup look today!  Most brides have a budget, and this look is so affordable!  When I got married, I did my own makeup because having someone else do it made me nervous.  Sometimes you can apply your makeup better than someone else, don't you think? Anyways, if you're on a budget or just want to do your makeup yourself, I have a few tips for you.

First, use a primer under your foundation.  If you want to really up the ante, use a primer with a long-wearing foundation, and use a setting spray.  Seriously, your face will thank me.

Second, go natural with the bronzer, blush, and eyeshadow.  It will be very flattering.  You want your friends and family to see you, not your makeup!

Third, I recommend using a lip stain so you don't have to worry about reapplying throughout the day.

If you'd like to see all the products I used, watch the tutorial below!

Summer Fresh-up

The weather is warming up (about darn time) which means we are due for the changing of the guard in your beauty bag.

Lipsticks switched for stains, heavy foundations traded in for gel blush + bronzers, your regular mani upgraded to gel & when your skin & hair needs to be extra protected against all the elements (sand, sun & sweltering heat).

I can't believe how much of a product junkie my Birchbox subscription has transformed me into - I just spent WAY too much time perusing my latest magazines & the top rated products on my go-to beauty sites for the must have products of the Summer (who am I!?)

I haven't tried any of these products (yet) - so if you have, let me know which ones should definitely be on the tippy top of my product wish list!

Just listen to these fabulous descriptions!

1. Kate Spade "Live Colorfully" Fragrance : created for their 20th anniversary, this scent delivers sexy summer flavors of florals, amber & vanilla! YUM!

2. Sally Hansen "Insta-gel strips" : I have been super into at-home manis since getting that engagement rock on my finger, but am always disappointed when my hard work only lasts a few days. This at home gel mani kit promises up to 2 weeks of mirror shine & a safe & easy application procedure (done & done).

3. Peter Thomas Roth Über-Dry Sunscreen (SPF 30) : I know I need to be wearing sunscreen, but don't like how it makes my already grease-prone skin a total oil slick! This formulation is supposed to be über-lightweight while providing full UVA/UVB protection, & is enriched with vitamins to help fight free radical damage.

4. Dior Jelly lip pen : This new jelly formula is said to deliver the "hydration of a balm, the high-shine of a gloss, & the pigment of a lipstick", seems like a perfect on-the-go product for polishing your look after a day at the pool. 

5. Revlon Lash Potion : I am always looking to grow my lashes (seriously, what woman isn't!?). This new "potion" is packed full of "strengthening proteins" to "drench" your lashes & pump up the volume now & on into the future. Magic.  

6. Drybar Hot Toddy Heat Protector Frizz Fighter : a pre-blowout treatment that fights frizz & protects hair for a smooth finish & healthier strands. AKA the perfect post-beach hair restoration! 

7. Deborah Lippmann textured nail polish : Apparently this "textured" nail polish thing is a new trend & what a pretty way to embrace it!

8. Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelée : First pretty sure "gelée" is just a fancy word for "gel". Moving on, this is a long-lasting, hydrating gel cheek stain made with coconut water - would look great on lips too! (Also loving this Josie Maran oil product for hair, nails & skin)

9. Sultra's "bombshell" rod curing iron : all you need for loose, beachy chic waves.

10. Nars Blush/Bronzer Duo : Easy enough, this is sun-kissed radiance in a compact.

What are your MUST HAVE Summer beauty products?

what's in my make up bag?

I have still been getting my Birchbox subscription & even though I haven't been gabbing about it all the time over here, I really love the service, like highlight of my month type of package in the mail. 

Ok, so I don't fall in absolute love with every single product, every single month, but this former product-trying-shy gal has found some new favorites & has been enjoying the full-size products that have been included now & again. 

As I mentioned yesterday, my favorite products are the ones that don't cost a bunch & get the job done & then some (workhorses!)

{ 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 }

These 9 products are the ones that I initially sampled through Birchbox & have gone on to become permanent game changers in my daily make-up routine. 

{1} theBalm Cosmetics "Mary-Lou Manizer" - what can this little lady NOT do - I love it on my lids, brow bone, cheek, and to add shimmer to my basic lip balm. This is a product that I keep close by in my purse for on-the-go touchups! 

{2} stila lip glaze - great color, easy to apply, non-stick - what else could a girl want!?

{3} Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint - I had never tried a "BB cream" before, & this was the first product that made me a BB believer! The mineral packed formula leaves my skin feeling smooth and looking bright. Best of all, it is one of those products that works without everyone knowing that you are wearing it!

{4} Dr. Jart+ Beauty Balm - This cream ties with the Jouer product. Dr. Jart's BB cream blends in seamlessly & provides SPF 25 for daily protection. Less work, but definitely more action with this product!

{5} Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner - The pen style applicator on this liquid liner makes creating the perfect cat-eye a cinch! Seriously, this product makes me feel straight up dumb for previously not being able to line my eyes without looking like I did it 6 beers in.  

{6} Benefit "Ooh La Lift" - Another workhorse in my make up bag - amazing for defeating under eye darkness, but also great for adding a dreamy glow to lids & cheeks. I love to put it on with my morning make-up, but it is also revives my face at the end of the day.

{7} Mox Botanicals Lip Butter - artisanal lip balm from those wonderful people in Oregon actually is better! The Pomegranate & Fig flavor is so dreamy, and the natural oils give lips some serious plump!

{8} Jouer "The Perfector" - If I am stranded on a deserted island, THIS is the one beauty product I want to be left with. At the top of my beauty blahs are dark under-eye circles (cue that scene from "Mean Girls"... "At least you guys can wear halters. I've got man shoulders")... anyways, after applying "The Perfector", I always think "take that sleepless nights wrangling pugs!"

{9} Gloss Modern "High Gloss Masque" - I've always said that all us "regular girls" could totally look like Charlize, Jen Aniston, JLaw & the rest of those gorgeous Hollywood starlets if only we had access to their hair, make-up & styling teams... but le sigh, we do not, however I think the high gloss masque is totally one of the dream team's tools... this power product turned my mid-Winter hay hair into a red carpet ready shiny mane after one use!

Any other Birchbox lovers out there?

Have you tried their men's box or home boxes yet?

Have no clue what this "Birchbox" is that we are talking about?

Birchbox is a monthly beauty/hair/make-up sample subscription service, for $10 a month, personalized samples are delievered to your doorstep - interested? Sign up here.

(No, this is not sponsored by Birchbox, I am just a real big fan, but if you sign up for the service using my referral link, I will get a small commission with which I will be using to buy more crack make-up.)

all about the brows

In 7th grade I was feeling pretty confident about applying make-up, but felt that there was one area of my face that still needed a little sprucing - my eyebrows. I ponied up to my mom's magnification mirror, & when I stepped back 5 minutes later, half of my left brow had disappeared. Upon walking into the kitchen for breakfast that morning, I was welcomed with looks of horror, humor, & confusion from my sister & mom. I clearly remember trying to wear a hat to school that day, & every day after for a couple of months. Ever since that harrowing day, I have done little to tend those unruly caterpillars. Save a single solitary trip to the waxing lady, my brows have remained untouched since 1999 

(it's ok, you can gasp).

When I had a recent make-up consultation, the biggest change I noticed were my filled in brows. Call me naïve, but I had never really thought about what I now know are the frames of your face (always thought that brows were pointless... this will change you mind!)

Simply using a brow brush and eye shadow matched to my brow color (Bobbi Brown's "Saddle" for me) has reinvigorated my make-up routine, & I instantly feel more "done"

I am now a filled-in-brow-believer, and these full brow beauties are my role models for luscious face frames (& proof that women of all hair color can rock defined eyebrows)

Camilla Belle // Jennifer Connelly // Brooke Shields // Sienna Miller // Elizabeth Taylor // Michelle Williams // Keira Knightley // Audrey Hepburn

While this isn't a tutorial on how to fill out your own brows (I am horribly ill equipped to dish on that sort of knowledge), it is a PSA that you should check out these lovely ladies' tips and pimp your brows { here & here }

Have you ever had a brow-tasrophe?

Are you a brow-filler-inner? Or naturally blessed with beautiful brows?

Let's chat!

P.S. My 30X30 Celebration giveaway ends tonight at midnight... you better get your tush over there and enter, so it can be your name I announce tomorrow!

DailyBuzz Style 9X9: Holiday Makeover

I am so excited to be participating in the DailyBuzz Style 9x9: November challenge, "A Month of Makeovers". I decided to not only challenge myself personally, but learn something new that I thought you would like knowing about too - easy holiday make up.

I am not a make up guru by any means, but I AM a girl that wishes she could put eyeshadows in the right place, and apply foundation without missing a chunk of skin to be found at the end of the work day... so I visited my girl Dianna at Woo skincare & cosmetics here in Nashville, set up my tripod, and got down to business. Even if she wasn't my girl before, she is now that she has hooked me up with some easy holiday makeup magic!

So, how DO you get easy holiday makeup?

Start with a fresh-faced base - {PREP} hydrate skin, {PRIME} cover up red spots, lighten under eye circles, and use a foundation coverage that you feel comfortable with (I like only a bit of coverage, so the Bobbi Brown BB cream is juuuust right for me). Then add some {COLOR} with bronzer, mascara, define your brows, and a sweep on brightening eye shadow.

This is your "day face" that you can run around in all day, and then, right before the party you only have to complete three easy steps to get {GLAM}...

beauty rut-ine

{This is a long (wordy) post, but I hope you can make it to the end, because this girl (ME) needs help getting her beauty routine act together!}

I had my first "make-over" at 13, and walked away from the Clinique counter looking like a baby hooker. While I didn't let that early hiccup with makeup stop me from experimenting with different looks as a teen, or later working at a Clinique counter, I have now fallen into a beauty RUT (hence RUT-ine instead of routine). As I mentioned yesterday, I have a hard time trying new products because 1. I like what I already know 2. I feel bad trying expensive, full size products and am too polite to return them (do people actually return used beauty supplies!?)... so I pretty much have used the same brands/items for the past 5 years, simply purchasing a refill (on auto-pilot) of the same item when it runs out.

I have combination-oily skin (i.e. blackheads on my chin, wrinkles on my forehead... let me tell you it is pretty awesome !!), and the brands I have found that work best with my finicky skin type are Bobbi Brown and Clinique... not to say that I have even extensively branched out from these lines, but I tried them and they work.

I am a pretty low-maintenance gal when it comes to my "beauty routine"... and I think my boyfriend would actually agree with that (my requirements for snuggling maintenance are a whole different issue), and as such have my "everyday" make-up application down to 3 minutes max!

My everyday make-up is very natural, with a hint of shimmer. 
After using Clinique's 3 step system for combo-oily skin (Type 3), I apply a daily sunscreen, followed by concealer around my eyes, and a sweep of shimmer block on my cheeks. I finish with a coat of black mascara, a pass of brow shaper to coerce my never-waxed brows into shape, and a little color on my lips.

For night time events and special occasions, I do like to "spruce up" my make-up with a little drama... big eyelashes, rosy cheeks, and kissable lips (the lip stain I use is boyfriend approved - not sticky, and not transferrable!)... but I still don't know how to apply eyeshadow... the idea of attempting a smokey eye seriously makes me nervously laugh!

In addition to my everyday make-up, I add a hint of cream rouge (right now Bobbi Brown pot rouge in Calypso Coral) to the apples of my cheeks, line my eyes with liner and apply faux eyelashes coated with a lash boosting mascara to help incorporate my natural lashes, and color my lips with either a long lasting red lippy (Estee Lauder Double Wear in Stay Scarlet) or a lip stain (Cover Girl Outlast lip stain in Plum Pout). A splash of perfume, using Michael Kors Very Hollywood right now, and I am good to go!

I definitely get a A+ in hair laziness... these are seriously the only products I own (with the addition of two tools - a Chi straightener, and a basic blow dryer). My favorite shampoo is 2-in-1 Head&Shoulders... yes, you read that right. My awesome stylist at the fancy salon I frequent can't believe it either - but this $4 bottle of suds makes my hair softer and silkier than any of the expensive Bumble&Bumble, Redken, or salon brand shampoos I have used in the past. 
The most done my hair gets is a quick blow dry, and either straightened or curled with my Chi (15 minutes tops). If I go to these lengths, I spray the heck out of my 'do, and usually wear it again the next day with the help of the magic that is dry shampoo (I have tried out several, and this one is stellar at oil absorption, and smells amazing!)

Usually my hair is washed at night, towel dried, and sprayed the next morning with Bumble&Bumble Surf Spray to accentuate my naturally wavy texture... easy. peasy.

Shampoo // Dry Shampoo // Hairspray // Beach Spray

While I am not very adventurous at trying new beauty products, there are some that have gotten such rave reviews that I really want to see what all the buzz is about. I want to stop paying so much for salon mani/pedi treatments, and really get good at doing my own at home with quality polishes. The Clarisonic Cleaning System promises to get rid of my blackheads... seriously, I should already own this. The new movement is barely there skin coverage with benefits is the Beauty Balm Cream, and Clinique seems to be making a superior product. Moroccan Oil - if Padma uses this stuff and gets those results it should work for me... right!? Lastly, while I am only 24, I want to start preparing my skin for beautiful aging... both my grandmothers have flawless skin and claim that slathering their face/neck in creams is the reason... I think the pore minimizing/skin refining promises of the Idealist cream is something that would be perf for my combination skin.

Essie Wedding Season Color Collection // Clarisonic Cleaning System // Clinique BB Cream // Moroccan Oil // Estee Lauder Idealist Cream

Ok - I shared all of this, so that we could get a conversation going about what your routine is like. Do you have any GO-TO products? What is on your beauty wish list? Any recommendations/tips from other gals with tricky combination skin? 

Help a sister out!

UPDATE: Thank you for all your wonderful advice today! Also, I just read a post by Jules about her natural beauty routine, and she has some great information! Check it out.

playing dress up

As a little girl, my use of lipstick was reserved for playing dress up or dance recitals. I watched my grandmother apply lipstick as soon as she got out of bed, and questioned my Sissy's use of lipstick as blush in a pinch. Even when I started officially wearing make-up in Junior High, my lip covering of choice remained classic Chapstick (strawberry flavored, of course!). I wasn't ever against colored lips, I think I felt it was too "grown-up"...

But now I have made an acquaintance to lipstick... and it is a new growing obsession of mine 

(we are still getting to know each other, we aren't BFFs yet). 

Over the holidays I was introduced to two new forms of lipstick:

{1} Clinique "Almost Lipstick" in Black Honey

{2} Cover Girl Outlast Lipstain in Plum Pout (#425) 

I love the Almost Lipstick because it is just like a tinted "chapstick" (soft and moisturizing), with a medium amount of color, and it looks amazing on everyone. Seriously, my Sissy, sister and I all got it and it is unique and flattering on each of us!

The Outlast Lipstain was a little different at first. When my sister told me to, "draw it on like a marker" I was concerned. But that is literally what it is... a tapered marker for your lips. The color is awesome (very saturated) and it stays put for hours. This has officially been deemed "boyfriend approved" as Ty usually regrets kissing me when I am wearing anything colored or glossy/sticky. When wearing my Lipstain he doesn't get color transferred to his lips, nor does he have to suffer sticky residue. The only drawback is that the "marker" is less than moisturizing, so reapplication of gloss is required throughout the day. 

What are some of your favorite lip colors, brands, or application techniques? 

I am new to this world of lip color, show me around 

xx

Jessica