Three Things Thursday 4-02-15

Hello Lovelies, welcome to Three Things Thursday! This is a new feature that I'm trying out,  where I give you a little scoop on three things I'm loving each week! Let me know what you think about it :)

The three things I'm loving most this week are:


Benefit Fake Up Concealer

Source

 I received a sample of this from my sister, and then another in one of my subscription boxes, and I can't stop using it! Fake Up is touted as an "ultra-hydrating crease-control concealer" infused with  vitamin E and apple seed extract. It claims to cover dark circles and diffuse fine lines for a "silky smooth, ultranatural look...that won’t cake, crease, or settle". This concealer comes in three shades, light, medium and deep, and I use light. I love this concealer because it actually lives up to most of its claims: it's super hydrating, it covers up dark circles (disclaimer: mine dark circles are not that bad, so I cannot say how it will work on more noticeable dark circles), and it does not settle into the fine lines under my eyes. However, I do have to go super light on the setting powder when I use it, because it does look a bit cakey when powder is applied too heavily on top. Some days I even skip setting it because IMO it doesn't really need to be set. It has a slightly dewey finish, but that is fine by me since that finish is what seems to diffuse the fine lines. Even though I have oily skin, my undereyes tend to become a bit dry, so this concealer really helps to eliminate that. I swipe a little bit under each eye, tap it in with my finger or a Beauty blender, and I am good for the day! Surprisingly, the tiny samples I have are lasting me quite a while, but this is an item I will definitely be purchasing a full size of!

Fab Five: My Top 5 Must-Have Beauty Products, December 2014

Hi Lovelies -

I want to share with you my top five beauty products for the merry month of December. These are my go-to winter favorites:

Source: Rimmel BB Cream Matte

BB or CC Cream  - this is great to apply for a quick base, or to use as a primer under foundation; my current go-to formula is Rimmel BB Cream Matte. Worn alone, it is super easy to apply and provides moderate coverage. As a primer, it provides a smooth, even base that foundation will glide right over. It moisturizes my skin to prevent the dreaded winter dryness, while at the same time keeping oil at bay. It creates a nice, soft look - neither too matte nor too dewy. I currently use a mix of light and medium, but as my summer glow continues to fade I will be using only light soon enough. I seriously love this stuff!

Source: Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick

Red Lipstick - This is a must-have for me during the holidays! A red lip is fabulous any time of year, but it screams "Christmas" to me - it's just so merry - so I try to rock it a little more often during the holiday season. Because there are many, many formulas and shades available, there is a red lipstick suitable for everybody out there. Some of my current faves are Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte in Siren in Scarlet and New York Color in Retro Red.  I will be doing a post on  red lips soon, so keep your eyes peeled!

Source: Elizabeth Mott You're So Fine Liquid Liner

Sparkly eyeliner - There's nothing more festive than glitter, am I right?!? Glittery eye shadow can be tons of fun, but can be a bit messy if not applied properly. If I'm feeling clumsy I don't have the time to mess with glitter shadow, I reach for the next best thing - sparkly eyeliner! I recently received the Elizabeth Mott You're so Fine Liquid Liner in Glitterati in one of my beauty boxes, and it is the perfect mix of inky black liner and subtle silver glitter - ideal for this time of year! The formula applies like a dream (seriously, one of the most effortless wings I have ever done), and once it dries it does not budge.

Source: Velour Lashes Whispie Sweet Nothings

Eyelashes - What goes hand in hand with red lips and sparkly eyes? LASHES! The more I try false lashes, the more I love them (and the better I get at applying them!)! Lashes can be super subtle or in-your-face dramatic; for a natural look with a bit of flare, try applying individual lashes or accent lashes. To really grab their attention, you can try full, flirty lashes or even lashes dripping with rhinestones. Whichever look you prefer, lashes are sure to give you that little extra "something" at your next holiday party!

Source: Bath & Body Works Twisted Peppermint Body Cream

Last, but definitely not least, is a good Body Cream. My skin starts to get really dry and itchy in December, so I always upgrade my usual lotion to a nice, thick cream. Right now I am loving Bath & Body Works Twisted Peppermint Shea Body Cream because it smells simply delicious, and whenever I apply it, it automatically puts me in the holiday spirit. While this might not be the scent for you, there are endless options in fragrance and texture (even unscented if that's what you prefer), so treat your skin well this winter and re-hydrate it with a rich body cream - you won't regret it.

Well there you have it - my Fab Five for December; hopefully I've inspired you to try something new! What are your December must-haves? I'm always looking for new products to try, so I would love to hear what you're loving this season :)

Thanks so much for reading - live a beautiful life!

~Jessica

Lip Love: Not so Nude

The '90s called, and they want their lipcolor back...

A big trend right now is '90s inspired lips: shades of brown, a la Friends-era Jennifer Aniston:

Sourced from Pinterest

While a nice escape from the bright lip colors that we have been seeing as of late, the brown lip can be a little harsh and intimidating if not applied correctly. To keep things fresh and modern, think rosy-brown or beige-toned nudes - AKA, "Kylie Jenner Lips".

Instagram: @kyliejenner

Kylie overdraws her lips, making them appear fuller and more prominent. It is rumored that she uses MAC Lip Pencil in the shade Whirl,  with a mix of MAC Lipstick in Brave and  MAC Lipglass in Viva Glam V  on top. Whatever combo she uses, it looks beautiful, and it's making me want some not-so-nude '90s lips STAT!

Instagram: @kyliejenner

This look is easy to achieve, with only two simple steps:

1. Using a natural colored lip pencil, line your lips just outside of the natural lip-line. The key here is to SLIGHTLY go outside of your natural lip - you don't want too look like you went overboard on the Juvederm!

Really, too much??   Source

2. Next, you want to fill your lips in with a matte nude lipstick. And Voila - pouty, 90's inspired Kylie Jenner lips of your very own!

For this look, I used Sephora Nano Lip Liner in Queen Quartz, with Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick in Daringly Nude on top, resulting in a pretty pink-nude lip color. 

Sephora Lip Liner in Queen Quartz and Maybelline Lipstick in Daringly Nude

For a little bit deeper nude look, I lightly lined and filled in my lips with NYC Automatic Lip Liner in Naughty Nude (this color can become quite dark if you apply more pressure, so you can achieve many different looks with one liner), and then layered New York Color Expert Last Lipstick in Creamy Caramel on top.

NYC Lip Pencil in Naughty Nude - top is light pressure, bottom is medium pressure

NYC Lip Liner in Naughty Nude and NYC Lipstick in Creamy Caramel

 If you have naturally pigmented lips, you can add a third step, which would be more of a prep-step; use a concealer to cover the perimeter of your natural lips and set with powder. This creates a blank canvas, so when you exaggerate your lip line with a liner, there are not two obvious lines competing for attention.

Another thing to keep in mind is that, unlike the '90s, we are not going for an obvious, darker brown outline with a light lip color in the middle. When you line your lips, color in the entire lip to keep uniformity, and keep your liner and lipstick shades in the same tone range to avoid the dreaded "ring around the lip" look.

Furthmore, though matte lipcolor is on trend at the moment, don't feel like you can't use a satin or gloss finish, if that's what you prefer - it's all about what works best for you and makes you feel fabulous!

You can really use any shade you like with this look, but since today's focus is on beige/nude hues, here are some great options to try for yourself, both matte and satin finishes:

Milani Lipstick in Enchanted Topaz  ($4-$6) - part of the new limited edition Bedazzled Collection, this lipstick is a matte, nude beige. It is a drier formula, so make sure to exfoliate your lips well before applying.

Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick in Daringly Nude ($5-$9) - a slightly more pink-toned medium beige shade. This is a creamier matte formula, and feels great on the lips.

New York Color Expert Last Lipstick in Creamy Caramel ($2-$3)- a sheer nude/brown shade; this is a your-lips-but-better color that looks great layered over a nude liner.

NYX Round Case Lipstick  in Thalia ($4-$5)- A simply gorgeous medium pink/nude, sort of a mauve with beige undertones, it pulls more nude when layered over a natural lip liner

L'Oreal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive Lipstick in Jennifer's Nude ($9-$10)- pinkish beige nude with mauve undertones. this looks beautiful by itself, or layered over a matte lipstick in a similar shade (like Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick in Daringly Nude) 

Clinique Different Lipstick  in Tenderheart ($16) - A mid-tone blushing nude/brown that is a more traditional '90s lip color. While fairly sheer, this lipstick can be built up or applied over a natural liner for a more opaque appearance.

The options for nude lipstick shades are endless, so experiment with a few (or a dozen!) to see what works best for your skin tone and color preferences - there is a nude lipstick out there for everyone, even if it isn't a traditional "nude".

Do you wear nude lipstick? What's your favorite brand/color? What are your thoughts on the "Kylie Jenner Lip trend"?

Thanks for reading!

~Jessica

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