Vamp Up Your Valentine's

With February already among us, the only exciting thing about this month has got to be Valentine's Day. I mean, why else would we be excited about a month with less days? Other than pay day comes sooner than the average month, I'm pretty sure February usually sucks for most people, aside from Valentine's Day (for some...the day's not usually all it's cracked up to be for everyone). Now whether you would like to openly admit it or not, most (and yes, I did say MOST for you girls who are "He-Man-Woman-Haters") of us ladies still look forward to celebrating with a Valentine whether we have a significant other or not. Of course movies have influenced us to imagine a romantic date night of some sort, where we get all dressed up and well...as the night progresses I'm sure you can figure out what most women expect from their Valentine's Day.

Whether you have a V-Day date or not, I'm here to share some tips on how to vamp up your V-day by making sure you look and feel amazing no matter the occasion. 

Number One- Pamper yourself. Whether you have plans or not, giving yourself an at-home spa treatment can really change the way you look and feel on Valentine's Day. I suggest if you have plans to go out with a friend or your lover on the 14th, do this pampering sesh the night or day before your date. This will ensure that your skin has time to relax before you apply a full face of makeup. And a little bonus tip for all you girlies that are habitually late to everything like me, this ensures all you have to do the day of is get yourself glammed up. Pre-pampering the day before allows you to actually relax and to not be in any sort of time crunch. Give yourself a mini facial, and if you don't have the time or just want to save a little bit of money prepping for your V-day plans, an at home mani/pedi will be the perfect way to still ensure your digits look up to par for the evening events, but that you don't break the bank doing it. Besides, artificial nails are long gone and out of style. All natural baby! That's the way to go. And trust me, your man will surely agree. Yes, he may find long nails sexy and seductive in the bedroom, but that's probably about the only place. Of course you want your man to think you take care of yourself by having your nails and hair done regularly, eyebrows, lip and bikini waxes are a no brainer; but you also don't want to make him think that you spend a tremendous amount of money on these things. Now as women, we know the truth. But what he doesn't know won't hurt him. :) Enhance your natural features. You want to look like YOU! Crazy right?

Number Two- This tip kind of goes in hand with number one. Whiten your teeth AHEAD of time to give you a more confident smile. This tip is great if you spend from now until the 14th preparing for V-day because then you will see whiter results the longer you have been whitening them. I think this tip is so important because who doesn't plan to be locking lips on Valentine's night?  Also, it just makes rocking a red lip on Valentine's that much sexier when your teeth are supppaaa white! :)

Now for Number Three- Send yourself flowers. No matter who you expect to surprise you on V-day, there's nothing better than a little gift from you to yourself to show your appreciation and love for all that YOU do! And if you've waited too late to send yourself a bouquet, then pick up a fresh one at your local Trader Joe's or Whole Foods. They have beautiful spring bouquets and roses right now for as little as $3.99!!

Number Four- Buy yourself a new outfit for V-day that will coordinate with whatever your plans are for the day or night. Staying in with girlfriends? Buy a new set of cute PJ's for your Girl's Night In! Going on a romantic date to a nice, intimate restaurant you've been dying to try? Go for a sexy, but sophisticated dress. You can't go wrong with black, red, or even a baby, blush pink. Keep it classy, Ladies. Going out with the girls? You can go for this same cute cocktail dress look! Let's not forget the lingerie and heels. You definitely can't go wrong with purchasing either. I recommend all three to really pull your look together!

Number Five- GO SIMPLE, yet sultry with your makeup. Stick with the "natural beauty" look as opposed to going all out for an evening smokey and bold lip. I can't stress enough that you DON'T, and I mean absolutely don't by any means, need to cake on the makeup! KEEP IT SIMPLE! BB creams, tinted moisturizers, or just a light weight foundation with build-able coverage are perfect options. You want to still be able to see your skin peeking through. If you need full coverage, use a concealer to build up coverage, but ONLY in areas where you need it. Using soft shimmery pinks and vanilla's paired with a matte taupe or soft brown to smoke out the crease are perfect shadows for a Valentine's Day makeup look. With the lips there is a little more room to play. If you really are itching to wear a red lip on your date, be sure to use a lip stain or matte lip stick that won't wear off quickly. And if you're looking to go a little bit softer or more natural, I suggest going for a soft pink or natural lip liner close to your natural lip color paired with a true nude or pinky nude lip and topped off with a soft pink gloss. Don't over do the lips though. Or else that could really be a V-day disaster and put a bit of a roadblock between you and your date and that Valentine's Day kiss.

                                      If you have more tips of your own. Share them below!

XOXO,

Jessica

JANUARY FAVORITES!

Here are some of the products I've been LOVING for the month of January! 

Thanks for being amazing and beautiful friends!!!

XOXO,

Jessica 

Hello, 2013! The Year of the CC Cream!

Happy New Year!!! 

Welcome to 2013! A new year means, new resolutions, new experiences, new love, new changes, and new opportunities to be amazing! I hope this year brings you all success, happiness, love and joy! I'm so excited about what's in store for 2013! 

2012 was the year we said "Tata for now" to our full coverage foundations and joined in on the trend of BB creams (Beauty Balms/Blemish Balms) here in the U.S. If you don't already know, BB creams originated in Germany and then years later became extremely popular in Asia (specifically in Korea) as an all-in-one multi-functioning skin cream. These creams were a mixture of SPF, a blemish fighting primer, and a "tint" or coverage similar to a tinted moisturizer that evens out and lightens the skin tone. Korean BB creams are formulated in much lighter shades; they almost contain a white cast on the skin, which is ideal for Asian women because they're main concern is to have very light, even skin. This is where U.S. BB creams differ from Korean BB creams for starters. Many BB creams released from cosmetics companies here have almost a yellowish undertone and can even appear to orange against many skin tones, making it difficult to find your matching shade, especially if you have a more fair complexion. In my experiences, it is hard to find a neutral BB cream. I am a fair/olive complexion. I need a neutral foundation or else my face either looks too pink or too orange and does not match my neck and decollate. There's absolutely nothing worse than having an orange face on a different colored body. But anyways, this post isn't actually supposed to be a review on BB creams, so let me stop myself before I spoil an upcoming post. What I am actually blogging about today is a new product launching out on the market early this year called the CC Cream. CC creams, or Color Control Creams, are the new version of the BB. Again, it was developed in Asia, just like the BB, where it originated in Japan and then took off in Korea. The CC was developed to have a higher SPF, more coverage (hence the name "Color Control") and a lighter consistency making it easier to blend, along with more oil control properties than the BB cream. I'm assuming that in the U.S., the CC will actually treat the skin as a corrective property, just as the BB was intended to, which most of them were not formulated to do like the Asian BB's.

Olay has beat the rest of the cosmetics world in the U.S. to the punch and released the first CC Cream this past October, making it also an affordable and easy to access, drugstore cream. It ranges around 20-25 dollars and focuses on hyper pigmentation, lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone and supposedly helps with the diminishment of dark spots over time. You'll find that it has more of a mousse-like consistency. 

Keep you're eyes peeled the next coming months for more high-end brands to release their CC creams. Clinique has released an estimated time-frame of February for the release of their CC cream. Personally, I am excited for this one, being that the Clinique BB cream is one of my top picks for U.S. BB creams, so I can't wait to see what the CC has in store. I'm hoping for a collaboration of their BB cream with the Clinique Even Better skin tone correcting line..Maybe?? I'm just making guesses, but that would be fantastic!

There's also the Wei East Wei CC cream, which I'm not very familiar with but I do believe you can purchase online for about 30 dollars.  

Of course if you plan on making any trips to Asia there are more options. Chanel and Rachel K are the leading CC creams on the Asian Market right now. No word on if or when Chanel will bring their CC to the U.S., but check out E-bay to see if you can get your hands on one! 

Mahal Kita! 

XOXO

Jessica 

Senteur Exotics Vegan Organic Body Care and Soy Wax Candles!

Check out my haul/mini review of these products I received from a vegan, organic body care and soy wax candles line called Senteur Exotics! Thank you, Beatrice for these amazing goodies! 

Be on the lookout for a full review and pictures of these products, coming soon in an updated post! 

Let me know what you think of these products so far and if you've ever heard of this company before. 

And be sure to check out Beatrice's website at senteurexotics.com!

XoXo,

Jessica 

Skincare tip of the day!

Happy Saturday!

It's June and with summer right around the corner, it's getting hot hot hot outside! The weather is just too beautiful for the day to be spent inside. That means summer BBQ's and cookouts, poolside parties and trips to the beach. Although the sunshine is great for a tan and for our minds (you can't help but be happy when you're enjoying the sunshine on a beautiful day), the heat that comes along with it isn't so nice to our skin and our makeup. If you are in need of an afternoon refresher for you skin, mist a toner over your face. The toner will feel cool against your skin, will refresh that pretty face of makeup and balance the pH of your skin. This will feel like an amazing 'pick me up' for your skin and makeup. 

I love this deluxe sample size toner from Pangea Organics that I received in a previous Birchbox a few months back. The size of it is wonderful for tossing into my beach bag or clutch when I'm out enjoying the sunny rays and summer heat. The smell is ahhh-mazing as well! This is the Italian Green Mandarin and Sweet Lime toner for normal to combination skin. 

I'll have a link below for Birchbox and Pangea Organics if you're interested in checking out this product! 

And that's your skincare tip of the day! Hope you're having a wonderful weekend friends! 

Follow these links to check out the Birchbox beauty subscription service and Pangea Organics!

www.birchbox.com

www.pangeaorganics.com

XoXo

DIY-Goodbye Blackheads, Acne Scars and Hyper Pigmentation!

If you're skin is similar to mine and you struggle with clogged pores, scarring from acne or hyper pigmentation, then this "do it yourself" facial mask is going to not only work great for your skin, but keep those pennies in your bank account and away from the spa. Spa treatments and products can be expensive, especially when they are products or services focusing on a specified skincare issue like anti-aging, acne, and hyper pigmentation. You can spend tons and tons of money on peels, microderm, etc.. OR you can use all natural products you probably already have in your home to achieve the same result! Now keep in mind, the time frame and the quality of the results are not going to be the same. Would that really be very realistic? Of course it's going to take a little bit longer to see results using all natural products from home, but it's going to be a lot healthier for your skin and much more cost efficient. So let's get started!

You are going to need:

1 Egg (Egg White)

Small Bowl

1 Lemon

1 Mixing Spoon or Whisk

Hair Tie

Headband 

Facial Towel or Washcloth 

Old Foundation Brush or Paint Brush (optional)

Step 1: Crack the egg into your small bowl separating the egg yolk from the egg whites. You're only going to be using the egg whites, so instead of throwing them out, save your egg yolk for breakfast in the morning or for a bonus step at the end of this post!

Step 2: Cut your lemon in half and squeeze the lemon juice from both halves into the egg white mixture. 

Step 3: Whisk the lemon juice and egg whites mixture until frothy. 

Step 4: Tie back your hair and apply a headband to ensure no product gets into your hair. 

Step 5: Apply warm water to the face to open up your pores. You may also use your facial cleanser with warm water during this step. 

Step 6: Pat skin dry or let air dry and then with your fingers, foundation brush, or paint brush, begin applying the mask to your face. I prefer using a brush to ensure I coat the product evenly over my face and it's less messy this way. 

Step 7: Once you have finished applying the mask, let it sit for about 20 minutes until it hardens. Your skin will feel tight and dry.

Step 8: After 20 minutes, remove the mask with warm water and pat your skin dry. 

All finished! Now you are set to apply toner, serum, and your moisturizer. It is best to perform these skincare rituals at night so that your skin can properly absorb all of the products without interference of the sun, makeup, etc. Toning your skin is important to balance the pH of your skin after stripping it of moisture during cleansing. Serum is a must if you're looking to improve the tone and texture of your skin; serums can only help the process! Moisturizers go without saying, they're a MUST no matter the skin type, as long as the moisturizer you are using is fitting for you!

**As a bonus step, after removing the egg white and lemon juice mask, you can apply the egg yolk onto your skin for about 15-20 minutes and then remove with cool-warm water and apply toner, serum, and moisturizer. This step will help to moisturize your skin and tighten up your pores. 

Now I can't end this D.I.Y. without explaining the benefits of using these products on your skin. Egg whites work great for drawing out impurities such as dirt and oil and tightening your skin and pores, while lemons are an amazing natural exfoliant for the skin which helps to remove blackheads and dead skin cells. This increases skin cell turnover and in result the skin looks brighter. Lemon juice lightens the skin, so this also helps with the reduction of acne scarring and hyper pigmentation. Keep in mind, the average rate of skin cell turnover is every 30 days. So keeping up with this mask about 1-2 times per week for a month is best to do in order to see results. Don't be discouraged if you aren't seeing results immediately. Using natural or organic products takes a little bit longer, but in the long run is going to be better for your skin. I promise that once you see results you will never want to spend the average $50 on a skincare treatment or product again. The key is consistency. Consistency=Results!

xoxo,

Recipe for the best bubble bath

I haven't been feeling well for the past couple days and a nice and relaxing, hot bubble bath was just what I needed to feel better. So I rummaged through my Bath and Body Works stash and found my Sleep body wash and foam from the aromatherapy line in vanilla cinnamon. Pour a little of this into your tub filled with hot water and the aroma alone will relax you. The sweet smell is to die for and the best part is that your skin smells delicious afterwards. I'm in love with the aromatherapy line at Bath and Body Works. A couple of my other favorites are the Vanilla Verbana and Eucalyptus Spearmint. What are some of your favorites? Or tips you have for the best bubble bath. Share them. I would love to hear! :)

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Pamper Your Eyes..They're The Only One's You've Got!

I don't care if you're 21 or 41, as women (and men) we are all concerned with keeping ourselves looking youthful for as long as possible. Preventative measures people!! I'm sure we all have our share of anti-aging creams and serums. Where does it all start? With your eyes! Eye creams are one of the most popular anti-aging products. Why? Because no one wants to end up with crows feet. Obviously!!! 

If you're 41 I'm sure you already have an eye cream incorporated into your skincare regime by now...if you don't then shame on you! And if you're 21, don't you think it's time to start?? You may not have many wrinkles now, but the sooner you start your preventative measures the better off you'll be in the long run! Not to mention you need something to take care of those puffy, dark circles as a result from staying out all night or up all night working on those papers. Finding an eye cream that will do both of those things is key! 

I won't lie, I'm no where near wrinkle road right now...but I do deal with dark circles and puffiness on a pretty frequent basis. I'm concerned with anti-aging as well as treating my dark circles. That is why my all time favorite eye cream would have to be the Aveda Green Science Firming Eye Cream. This baby is a miracle worker! It's smooth an creamy and leaves the skin around my eyes feeling super soft! My favorite part is that unlike many eye creams, it's gentle enough to be used all over the eye lid as well. The texture is very smooth and a little bit of product goes a long way. Some of the main ingredients listed are lady thistle, organic argan oil and cactus formula. These ingredients bring in the most moisture that is needed in order to plump up the skin and smooth out wrinkles. Dry skin = More Wrinkles; So, an eye cream that is extremely moisturizing is key to diminishing fine lines and wrinkles and preventing new ones. Another key ingredient found in this eye cream is plant-derived buckwheat wax, which aids in minimizing the appearance of fine lines as well. Below you'll see pictures of the product in packaging and an example of about how much product you need per eye.
A tip for applying your eye cream; Always use your ring finger and softly pat the cream around the eye, the brow bone and on the eye lid gently if your eye cream is safe to use on the lid. 

Thanks for taking time out of your day to visit my blog! If you're interested check out my life blog: My Life With Charles In Charge 

And also check out my husband's new fitness and sports blogs! Mind4Fitness and The Sport Of It 

xoxo <3

Exfoliate Your Way Into Summer Ready Skin

Okay, so I know that technically it's still winter and we're supposed to be wearing boots and heavy coats covering up our skin that, let's face it, we've neglected ever since summer ended. Dry, dead skin isn't sexy and we must get our skin in shape for the upcoming months. What's that mean? Exfoliation! When it comes to exfoliating we tend to just be concerned with removing the dead skin from our arms and legs. What about the dry, dead skin cells sitting right there on your face staring back at you in the mirror?!! 

Let's start there first! When looking for an exfoliant to incorporate into your skincare regime there is one thing I cannot stress enough; REFINE REFINE REFINE. I'm sure you're wondering what the heck I am talking about. When I say "refine" I mean refined exfoliating beads inside of your cleanser or scrub. Beads that are refined are more gentle on the skin than unrefined beads that can cause little tiny cuts and scratches on your skin when you manipulate the refiner back and forth. If you have sensitive skin, finding the right exfoliant can be tricky, therefore exfoliants without refined beads should be crossed off of your list of options immediately. Exfoliating the skin is naturally going to be slightly abrasive, if your skin is sensitive then you are susceptible to being irritated more easily. Now let's cut to the point. Which products have refined beads and which products don't? Well the list could go on and on, so I'll just give you one example of an exfoliator with refined beads (my top pick) and the exfoliator without (my least favorite). 

A product that is most popular for exfoliation would be the St. Ives Apricot Scrub, but the downfall is that the it contains tiny, unrefined beads made from the seed of the apricot. You can feel the roughness and abrasiveness of the beads as you manipulate it on the skin. Which can result in tiny cuts and scratches as I mentioned before that can lead to the spread of bacteria and cause redness and irritation. The consistency of the formula does not aid in the smoothing the abrasiveness of the beads. 

Need an alternative option??

 The Aveda Tourmaline Charged Exfoliating Cleanser contains small, naturally-derived, refined jojoba exfoliating beads that help to remove dead skin cells without the abrasion. The formula is a mix between a creme and a gel, so it works for all skin types including sensitive skin. It is gentle enough that it can be used as an everyday cleanser, but trust me, it definitely gets the job done. Leaving your skin with that radiant, youthful glow that you should get after exfoliating with little to no redness left behind. This would be my #1 recommendation for an exfoliant to anyone searching for the perfect exfoliator to get rid of this winter's dry, dead skin and welcome in the summer's glow! Xoxo!