Au Natural Hair!

Hey guys!!

I thought today I would show you what products I use to style my hair naturally.
I actually have pretty curly hair, so sometimes it can be a bit of a problem with either frizz, or days it just doesn't want to curl itself properly, etc... You curly hair people know what I'm talking about here. Depending on the weather, I may let it dry naturally (usually only happens on hot summer days), or use a hair dryer to speed up the process when its colder out or I'm in a rush and don't want to look as if I just exited the shower. Having thick, curly hair means it takes hours to dry naturally unless its at least 25+ degrees outside.

To begin, here are recent pictures of my hair left alone. In these, I let my hair dry naturally (it's actually still a bit wet as you can see). At the end of this, I am going to show you guys a quick picture of how long my hair actually is when I blow-dry it straight and what I use for that - the length difference is crazy. (Click to enlarge these).

This all starts in the shower. To be honest, I've never noticed much difference between a "curl" shampoo and any other formulation, so I just use whatever I have on hand - lately thats been the Clear for Color and Damaged hair. Maybe I just haven't found any curl shampoo/conditioner combo thats great yet - but of the ones I've tried, my end results do not differ. When I'm in the shower I brush the conditioner through my hair with a wide tooth comb; when doing this, I make sure to comb my hair the way I would part it. When rinsing my hair I try not to tangle it up or anything a whole lot- Basically, my goal is to not have to brush/comb my hair once I get out of the shower. This helps my natural curls stay in together and not separate them too much.
Next, I just squeeze my hair with a towel to get any excess water out (my hair retains water really well, so this is crucial). I part my hair and depending on how I am going to dry my hair (naturally or not) depends on what goes on my hair.
Here are the products that I use.

Catwalk Curl Collection Curlesque creme
AG Re-Coil Curl Defining Creme
Pantene Mousse for curls, hold level 4
Hair Dryer Diffuser

Drying my hair naturally
Separate my hair into 4 sections (one on each side and 2 for the back). Apply very small amount of AG Recoil to hands, rub together, distribute onto section- repeat with each section. This is seriously the holy grail for naturally curly hair. It makes my curls even curlier and I can not rave about this stuff enough.
Afterwards, I apply a small (quarter sized) amount of Catwalk Curlesque to my whole head and just crunch my curls a little to encourage them to twist more. Thats it!
The reason I apply both products when letting my hair dry naturally is that I find my hair can get a little separated and frizzy without the Catwalk, but my curls are as bouncy without the AG; therefore, I feel I need both. I don't apply the mousse when I dry my hair naturally as I feel it leaves my hair hard and crunchy.

Drying my hair with a hair dryer
When drying my hair with a hair dryer I first apply the AG Recoil as I previously explained. After that is when I put a palm-full of Pantene Mousse all over my hair. Stick the Diffuser onto my hair dryer (EXTREMELY important) and flip my hair upside-down while drying it. I find flipping my hair over adds more volume to the roots. I always put my hair dryer setting to low (so yes, this can sometimes take a while) and carefully hold pieces of my hair so the blowing air doesn't cause the curls to separate too much (this is why the low setting is so important, otherwise it will end up frizzy). When its dry, I give it a shot of cold air with the hair dryer to seal it all in and voila! Done-Zo.
The Pantene Mousse doesn't leave my hair crunchy when I use a hair dryer - I can't really explain why; maybe because it's being tousled around more.

Just for fun
Here's how long my hair actually is when it is blow-dried straight (no flat iron was used in this).


All I really did for this was apply a small amount of Carols Daughters Smoothing Blow Dry Creme (smells like chocolate- yumm) and put a concentrator on my hair dryer. Section the hair off in 4 sections again, and use a paddle brush to follow the hair down the brush with the edge of the concentrator.



















Well! There you have it!

If you guys have any questions about the individual products, or want to see how I "Unnaturally" curl my hair for daytime or a night out, let me know!!

Thanks for reading! Love!

-J

June Favorites!

Hey guys!

Today I am going to tell you about the things I have been loving for the month of June. We have had pretty miserable weather here so far this month - it has been cold and rainy for the most part, but it seems to be heating up a bit so I anticipate some of these products will no longer be used next month (more on that later). For now, I'l try to do some mini reviews as I go so lets jump on in! Also, I apologize for the quality of the pictures this time; it's already the 3rd of July so I really wanted to get this post up, and its 10:00 at night here so there is no natural lighting (I'll try to do better next time- promise).

 Lots of Goodies :)

 So, As you can see, I couldn't pick just one lippy this month. All 3 are from the same line, the Maybelline vivds collection, but I absolutely could not narrow it down to 1. This entire line of lipsticks is amazing! I purchased one and have kept going back for more colors ever since. The three colors I narrowed it down to for my favorites this month are: Hot Plum, Shocking Coral, and Fuchsia Flash.

These three colors give the best of all shade choices for summer: Magenta, Coral, and a hot Pink. Although these colors may seem like they might not be wearable for daytime, I actually even wear mine to work (at a bank) and get complemented on them all the time. The lipsticks are super creamy, and I find the staying power to be much better than a glossy balm but not as drying as a stain. I do have to reapply after eating or drinking, but other than that I have had excellent success with the quality of these.
They are super bright and perfect for the summer.

Next up, we have my Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer in Brightener. This is a definite must have for me this month as it has been such a hectic/busy few weeks for me and I feel my eyes show my lack of sleep. This concealer has a hint of salmon in it which I find works amazing for dark circles. I apply it under my foundation so I can have a thicker layer of product, while my foundation then covers the color and helps it blend into my skin. I have actually recommended this to a few people now who have come back to tell me how much they love it.

Next we have my CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation in Medium Beige. I've been grabbing this every day for quite a while now and its definitely still on top for me in June. I like this because it offers great coverage without feeling caked on or heavy, and it doesn't melt or get oily throughout the day (definitely a plus now that the weather is improving!) The pump applicator makes this really easy to apply so you always have the right amount of foundation (no wasting, yay!) and it seems much more sanitary than sticking your hands into a bottle or pot to get the product out.

This is the Milani baked blush in Rose D'oro. I have been reaching for this mostly because it has some shimmer and gives an amazing glow to the cheeks for summer. It is almost like a light bronzer with hints of gold and rose tones into it. On the cheeks, this makes me feel glowy and dewy. I usually just apply this with a large powder brush directly to the apples of my cheeks for a bit of added color.












Ok. Here is the part where I get to my favorites for the month of June, which probably won't be favorites for next month. First, we have my beloved Benefit They're Real! Mascara.

I just raved about this a few weeks ago (see previous posts) so I won't get into much detail on that again here. However, I am now discovering that because it isn't waterproof, it actually smudges in humidity. I wore this a few times this week and ended up with black around the top of my eyelid because the heat. As much as I love this mascara, I think this next month will be different - however, for June, I was obsessed.

The last product that loved for June, but probably wont be loving much for the rest of summer is the Maybelline Line Stiletto Liquid eyeliner. This has been the best liner I have found recently and I love how matte the black is. The applicator also makes this really easy to apply and get a nice wing line with. The problem I think I might have is similar to my mascara, it isn't waterproof. Although I think this is available in waterproof, I didn't purchase that type, and the non-waterproof version just starts to smudge on my lashline in the heat. That being said, I love the eyeliner enough that I will have to run out and purchase the waterproof version to try for next month. If it acts the same as this one, with the added benefit of being waterproof, I'll love it even more. :)

My favorite scent this month is Lola by Marc Jacobs. This scent just seems so light and fresh to me. I am actually terrible at describing scents, so I'm actually just going to quote what is written on the Ulta website for this particular perfume.
"A warm floral bouquet. A long-lasting fragrance that wraps the skin in sensuous florals.
Topnotes - Pink Peppercorn, Pear, Ruby Red Grapefruit
Midnotes: Rose, Fuschia Peony, Geranium
Drydown - Vanilla, Warm Tonka Bean, Creamy Musk"

Again, that was totally copy and pasted from the website. :)










The last 2 things I have are not makeup, but definitely essentials in my routine. Every single night I have been using both Ponds Cold Cream for normal to dry skin, and Olay Fresh Effects Long Live Moisture in Satin Finish moisturizer.

This stuff is seriously insane amazing, why have I not heard more about this? I know this product is pretty ancient and maybe our mothers used it, but they had a point. Ever since I began using this at night my skin has gotten so much softer! I just put a loonie size amount all over my dry face and neck, rub it in, then wipe it off with warm water on a facecloth and every last bit of makeup is gone. I don't even know what this stuff is supposed to claim to be doing, but for me it is an amazing makeup remover and moisturizer. Definitely recommend everyone getting into this. Also, if you're afraid this might clog your pores (because it is quite a thick consistency), I wouldn't worry too much as I haven't had a single breakout since I started using it. I'm not claiming it stops breakouts, just that it doesn't cause them on me.

After I use the Ponds Cold Cream, I move on to my new favorite face moisturizer. Olay Fresh Effects Long Live Moisture in Satin Finish.

This is a very light lotion for the face and neck that has a very satin/pearly finish to it. the pump is perfect for ensuring the perfect amount of product for your face and it works well at hydrating the skin. I like the little bit of added hydration this gives me after the Ponds Cold Cream, and leaves my skin feeling and smelling very fresh and clean.














So, there you have it! All of my favorites for the month of June! If you guys want to see longer reviews or have any questions or comments about how these products work just let me know!

Thanks for reading! Love!

-J

Shadows and Liner!

Hey everyone!

This will be a small, quick post as i just wanted to give a mention of 3 products I picked up, but I am also extremely busy with last minute paper writing and other boring priorities. However, I decided a break was in order to post this :)

So, I did a little shopping last week and found some really pretty eyeshadow shades and an absolutely stunning eyeliner, Yay!
I have been avoiding buying the L'oreal Infallible eyeshadows for a long time, yet I'm not sure why I refused to try them despite the good reviews I've seen. The powder consistency just seemed like it would be a loose mess and end up all over my face instead of on my eyelid - which after trying them, actually can happen depending on how you apply them.

I picked up the colors Forever Pink and Sahara Treasure.

They both contain a lot of shimmer which I was concerned about at first, but these actually end up looking fantastic on the eyes! The powder is a lot more loose than I am accustomed to, so I had to play around and figure out which brush works best with these shadows. Do not use a fluffy crease brush for these, it makes a mess and the pigment ends up under your eyes. Instead use a very dense, short shadow brush or even your finger (yes, that actually works for these) and apply these by pressing the color down onto the lid instead of swiping your brush over it. Trying these wet also makes them a little easier to work with so that they don't flake off.
Overall, I like these shadows- theres a few more colors I may try, but for now I'm going to keep using these to test their staying power and versatility for everyday wear.

On to the eyeliner. Oh My Goodness, this liner from Urban Decay's 24/7 line is the most amazing color I have ever seen. Pictures and swatches do not do it justice - it is truly a product you must try.
Sabbath.

This is a deep deep royal blue shade that is like nothing I have ever seen before. It is neutral enough that I replace my black liner with this very often, and it looks amazing with brown eyes (blue shadows/liners on brown eyes always make the eye pop).
Urban Decay eyeliners are pricy (in the $20 range), but they are not disappointing. They slide on smoothly, give you a little time to smudge if you want to, and then set so well that no amount of rubbing will budge them (makeup remover obviously does the trick). Although I love the entire line of the 24/7 pencils, there are drugstore brands that offer the same benefits for much less; therefore, I usually only buy an Urban Decay one when the color is something I cant find elsewhere. Seriously, this color is definitely a favorite of mine at the moment.

Swatches

L'oreal Infallible eyeshadows: Sahara Treasure & Forever Pink
Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner: Sabbath

Thats going to be it for this little post today. As the end of June is tomorrow I will be doing my best to post a June favourites in the next few days and that will definitely be longer.

Feedback is always welcome!

Thanks for reading! Love!

-J

Benefit They're Real!

Hey guys!!

First, it's an absolutely beautiful day out today. I'm sitting at our little bistro set on the apartment balcony, in a dress and loving it. Finally summer is starting to arrive here! Anyway, I was so excited to be blogging outside that I had to share that; on to the makeup!

So, I'm probably going to post a few things over the next few days as I've got some things in mind that I want to share with you all! I might do a daily skincare routine of the products I use and when; you'll definitely see a June favorites in about a week, and there was a recent Shoppers Drug Mart trip that I'll probably talk about soon as well.
For now, I'm going to do a very quick post about a product we all already know and probably love - but I have actually just tried it for the first time this month.
Benefit's They're Real! mascara.

As you can see, the brush has rubber bristles and then has this weird little end that just seems strange, but trust me, is very useful. I will admit - it took some work getting me to like this mascara (I'm sure someone is screaming at me for saying that right now). The first few times I used it, I found that the consistency was just too wet, or there was just too much product on the brush, and it was pretty much fusing my lashes all together and making them look ridiculous. I didn't give up though, and I'm glad I didn't. After playing with it for about a week, I somehow mastered how to apply it to get optimal results. Maybe it dried out a little, or less has been coming out on the brush, or maybe I just discovered the right application process. Either way, if you guys give this a try and don't like it at first - keep playing around with it; I promise it gets easier.

I know, I know, I'm super late jumping on this bandwagon. Honestly, I just couldn't justify paying $29 + tax for mascara when my drugstore brands, that I love, work just fine for me. However, a friend of mine gave this to me as a birthday gift a few weeks ago, and now I am in serious trouble because I dont think I can revert back to anything else. I will forever be purchasing this mascara (maybe; forever is a long time in makeup world).

I'll pretty much show you guys a before and after. I promise, I am not wearing fake lashes. I pretty much think a picture says a thousand words here for sure. (My goodness my eyebrows need tending! embarrassment!)

Before:

As you can tell - my natural lashes aren't amazing. Although, I do feel that this picture is doing an injustice to what I thought they really looked like without mascara. Regardless, I have a lot of dark, short lashes; they also aren't very sparse (yay).

After:

I want to add again that I do not have fake lashes on. Not only that, but I also did not curl my lashes at all in this picture. This is actually the mascara on its own with no other help. I applied 2 coats to my upper lashes, and one coat to the bottom.

Obviously, I fell in love with this stuff. It isn't waterproof - which made me apprehensive because I find mascara usually smudges on me if it isn't a waterproof formula, but this one doesn't smudge or flake at all throughout the day. Benefit has truly mastered mascara.

Again, I know I'm super late falling for this product - but I guess I'm just another one of those ladies who just didn't think $29 for a mascara was going to be worth it. Clearly, I was wrong.

Let me know what you guys want me to write about! I'll definitely pick up some products if you want to see a review, recommendation, or tutorial!

Thanks for Reading! Love!

-J

Mini Drugstore Haul!

Hey guys!

Ok, so in this mini drugstore haul, I purchased 6 NYX singles shadows, and 2 NYX trio shadows. I also picked up one of the Milani statement lipsticks everyone has been raving about.
I also just want to quickly apologize for the crazy delay in posts. I was in the process of packing, moving, and unpacking for the last few weeks. Moving, mixed with interviews, exams, and my weekend-long Birthday celebrations have made for quite a hectic few weeks!

The reason for all the eyeshadows is because Lawtons Drugstore had a crazy sale on some of their NYX stuff; the singles eyeshadows were on sale for $1.74, plus they were buy 2 get 1 free. The NYX trio shadows were on sale for about $3 as well. There were other things besides eyeshadows on sale, but the selection was slim. Also, all Milani products were 20% off so run out and get some! I highly recommend the baked blushes and liquify eyeliners, but I already have some of those so I decided to grab a lipstick instead; I'll probably go back to another Lawtons before these sales are over and stock up on some more things if the selection is better.

I have only tried out a few of the eyeshadows and the lipstick twice, so this wont be much of a review of products. However, NYX in general offers good quality shadows and we all know these Milani lipsticks are supposed to be amazing so I expect there to be a rave review of all products in the next few weeks.

NYX Singles

 Here are the 6 shadows I picked up. In order from top left to right and bottom left to right here are the names. Golden Amber, Asphalt, Ballerina Dream, (color name ripped off this one when I opened the packaging - oops), Red Bean Pie, and Eggplant.

Here are the swatches for each in the same order as listed above as well. Some of these colors are shimmery and some are a satin finish; none that I bought were matte.
I found the 2 shimmer colors (Golden Amber and Ballerina Dream) to have small amounts of glitter in them. They also seemed to swatch a bit chalky  but maybe if applied wet these could work a little easier and hopefully not flake off. The rest of the colors went on a little smoother and left a great color payoff. I used two of these on my birthday (Golden Amber and the nameless one) to go out and they had amazing staying power. I loved the color effect they gave me with a black liquid liner on top of them.

NYX Trios

These 2 trio palettes caught my eye because I love  a good blue for brown eyes, and the second palette just seemed great for summer. The top trio gave the individual names for the colors (left to right), Baby Blue, Pacific, and Navy. The bottom Trio just gave a name for the whole palette, Hippie-Chic.

When I swatched these, they were a little hit or miss again. For the blue palette, Baby Blue and Pacific gave great color; Navy actually needed more product to give that deep color and seemed a little more chalky. Again, hopefully a wet application will fix this.
Hippie-Chic had the exact same problem. The first 2 colors gave awesome saturation (which might be hard to believe because of the light color of the first swatch), but the lilac color on the right needed more product and also seemed chalky.
I'll definitely have to give these a try. Sometimes playing around with them can help you figure out a good way to make them work.


Milani Statement Lipstick

 Lastly, I also picked up a Milani Color Statement lipstick in Fruit Punch. It smells Delicious! It actually smells exactly like fruit punch and makes me want to eat it. haha.

As I expected, the color came out amazing. I have used it twice now and so far I love it. It comes out that exact color on my lips, smells great, and is very creamy. It isn't a long wearing lipstick, not that I think it claims to be?, so I do find myself reapplying it if I eat or drink. That is a small price to pay for such a gorgeous color however and I will definitely be picking up more!












Ok! So that is all I have for you today; I will be posting another blog soon as I received some makeup gifts for my birthday that I would love to tell you guys all about! :)
Sorry again for the late post - sometimes life just gets in the way!

If you guys want to see tutorials on anything or some pics of how I'm using these products just let me know!!

Thanks for reading. Love!

-A