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Best of Beauty 2014



This year for my favorite beauty products of the year I decided to narrow it down to one things from each category to have a best of the best. I've looked through all my favorites throughout the year and picked my favorites. Here are my favorite beauty products of 2014.

Foundation: Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation I've been using this every day for school and going out. It feels light on the skin, lasts all day and looks natural.

Powder: Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder (not pictured because it broke last week) It's pretty pricy for a drugstore product but it's worth it. It adds extra coverage while keeping the oils at bay. At the end of the day my face never looks as oily as it does when I use other products. It's so finely milled and a little goes a long way.

Face Primer: Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer (not pictured because I used it up) I haven't found anything that works better than this. It makes my skin smooth which allows better makeup application and helps it last all day.

Blush: NYX Baked Blush in Chiffon This reminds me of the MAC Mineralize blushes but it a fraction of the cost. The Chiffon shade adds brightness and makes me look more awake. It's a nude shade but there's a hint of pink. It may not seems like an exciting color when you look at it but it really defines the cheekbones and gives you a healthy glow.

Bronzer: The Body Shop Honey Bronzer I love this bronzer. It's very subtle but it really defines your face. It makes everything look better. It never looks muddy or orange. It's matte which I love. It looks very natural. It works to warm up the face and contour as well.

Eyeshadow: LORAC Pro Palette I love that this palette is half matte and half shimmer because it's the best of both worlds. You can create many looks with it and it works for any occasion. The shadows are so smooth and easy to blend as well. It's really sad that I can't purchase anything from this brand in Canada.

Eyeshadow Primer: NARS Pro Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base Best primer ever! It goes on clear. It enhances and brightens the eyeshadow color, doesn't crease and lasts all day. This is definitely worth the price.

High End Lip Product: YSL Rouge Volupté Sheer Candy Gloss Balm in 05 Mouthwatering Berry It's just a beautiful color. It's hydrating and feels good on the lips. It's not the most long wearing product but it fades off evenly and leaves a bit of a stain. If you buy one YSL lipstick I highly recommend this one.

Drugstore Lip Product: NYX Butter Gloss in Tiramisu and Angel Food Cake This is the only lip gloss that I like. It goes on like butter, isn't too sticky and feels nice on the lips. The colors are pretty pigmented for a gloss and really make your lips look amazing.

Lip Balm: Nivea A Kiss of Olive Oil and Lemon I'm so sad that I can't buy this in Canada. It's very moisturizing and hydrating and an all around good lip balm.

Mascara: Clinique High Impact Mascara This is not waterproof but it doesn't smudge on me. Once it's on it's not going anywhere. It's easy to get off though. It makes my lashes look voluminous and adds length without being clumpy.

Nail Polish: Essie Ladylike This is a great nude that's not a traditional nude. It looks like a mauve, taupe, light purple color. It makes my nails look polished and I just love it so much.

Face Moisturizer: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra I love using this in the morning and at night. It sits well under makeup and absorbs quickly. It provides enough hydration for my skin to feel comfortable and it doesn't irritate my skin.

Hand/Body Moisturizer: Lush Dream Cream This is basically my skin saviour. I slater this on my hands every night especially in the winter when I get eczema on my hands. It's the only thing that works for me. I also use this on my body when my skin feels dry or itchy and it works right away. I always have a tub of this on hand.

Body Wash: The Body Shop Mango Shower Gel This is a gently body wash with a subtle mango scent. It doesn't irritate my skin and it's nice to use. I think any of The Body Shop shower gels are good. The mango one is just my favorite scent.

Face Wash: Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit This is an old favorite. I used it back in high school. I had a lot of breakouts this summer so I just went back to it and it really helped.

Hair Product: Marc Anthony Curl Cream I discovered this product during the summer. It tamed my frizzy, puffy curly hair in Florida so I knew it was good. I use this after I wash my hair and when I straighten my hair it helps it stay straight with no frizz.

Hair Tool: Vidal Sassoon Pro 2-in-1Styling Iron This is the best straightener I've ever tried. I haven't tried it for curling my hair because I bought for straightening.

Hope you have a healthy and happy new year.

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥

2014 Lifestyle Favorites


Here is a list of my favorite things of 2014.

Top 5 Movies
- God's Not Dead
- The Fault in Our Stars
- Veronica Mars
- The Memory Book
- In My Dreams

Top 5 TV Shows
- Call the Midwife
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine
- Girl Meets World
- Chasing Life
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Top 5 Music/Bands

Top 5 Youtubers

Top 6 Blogs

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥

Top 10 Christmas Songs!

Image Credit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/114647216/best-way-to-spread-christmas-cheer-is

Here is a list of some of my favorite Christmas songs. I’ve been listening to Christmas music since the first of November. (My all-time favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night and I have 2 versions of the song included in this list which makes it 11 songs.) 


  1. We Have A Savior – Hillsong Worship
  2. The First Noel (Holy is the Lord) – Hillsong Worship
  3. Hope Was Born This Night – Sidewalk Prophets
  4. For All That You Have Done – Rend Collective
  5. O Holy Night – Anthem Lights
  6. O Holy Night – Michael Henry & Justin Robinett
  7. I’ll Be Home for Christmas – Joey Stamper ft. Donald Stamper
  8. Peace Has Come – Hillsong Worship
  9. What A Glorious Night – Sidewalk Prophets
  10. O Come All Ye Faithful – Britt Nicole
  11. Born is the King (It's Christmas) – Hillsong Worship 


Merry Christmas!
Sincerely, JoJo.♥

December Favorites!


December is one of my favorite months of the year. Christmastime is my favorite time of the year because it's full of joy. I can't believe that 2015 is so close. I feel like this year went by very fast.
This month I don't have many favorites because half of the month was focused on finals and the rest of the time was focused on enjoying the Christmas season.

Milani Color Statement Lip Liner in 03 Nude
This is a perfect nude shade because it's not too pale and not took dark. It's like a brownish nude with a touch of pink to it. It's like my lips but more nude. This is great when I want to define my lips before applying lip stick. I love it because it glides onto the lips and it's easy to blend out. I will definitely be picking up more shades from this range.

First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser 
I've heard a lot about this face cleanser and I've been wanting to try it for quite some time. I finally picked it up this month and I'm pleased with it. It's very gentle but gets the job done. After using it my skin feels soft and refreshed. It doesn't make my face feel too dry as some cleansers do. It doesn't really have a scent so it's good for sensitive skin. It's also good for removing makeup.

Bioderma Sensibio H2O
This is probably my favorite skincare product of all time. I always go back to it. There are so many uses for it. I use it to remove my eye makeup, I go over my face with it to make sure all my makeup is gone, I use it to refresh my face and I also use it sort of like a toner after I wash my face. I went 2 weeks without using it and my skin broke out like crazy. When I started using it again my break out started clearing up quickly. I definitely call this my skin saviour. I try to stock up on it when it's on sale.

Lifestyle Favorites

Music:
Peace Has Come - Hillsong Worship
I'll Be Home for Christmas - Joey Stamper ft. Donald Stamper
You Carry Me - Moriah Peters
Love Goes On - Hillsong Young & Free
Infinity (Acoustic) - Against The Current

Movies:
Signed, Sealed, Delivered for Christmas
The Nine Live of Christmas

Food:

Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!
Sincerely, JoJo. ♥

UPDATED 2014 Beauty Goals


At the beginning of the year I made myself a list of four beauty goals that I wanted to accomplish throughout the year, which you can see here. Since we are coming to the end of 2014 I thought it was time to look back through them and see whether I've achieved them.

My first beauty goal was to find a tinted moisturizer that would even out my skin tone and last all day. I really enjoyed the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer but it needs to be worn over a primer or else it slips off my face. I couldn't wear it in the warmer months because it would slide off my face even with primer underneath. It would be great for people with normal to dry skin because it gives your face a beautiful glow. I will conclude that my goal of finding the perfect tinted moisturizer is still in progress.

My second goal was to find a good face primer. The best primer that I tried this year was the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. It does everything I want in a primer but the downside of this product is the expensive price tag. This goals has been achieved, however; I'm still looking for a more affordable primer to use daily.

My third goal was to find a moisturizer that would take care of my sensitive combination skin. I believe I found that in the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra. It's lightweight but very moisturizing. It works well under makeup and is also good to use for nighttime. My skin seems to like the products from La Roche-Posay. Every product that I've tried from this range doesn't break me out. That's a win in my book.

My final beauty goal of 2014 was to consistently was my makeup brushes once a week. That was a complete fail. I washed my makeup brushes on Monday after not washing them for a month. I know that I need to wash the makeup brushes that I use on a daily basis way more often because it's better for my skin. I need to work on that.

Overall, I think doing this was a good idea as it got me to think about what I really wanted to focus on beauty-wise this year. I'm glad I found a moisturizer that I love. I will keep my unachieved goals in mind in 2015.

If anyone knows of a great tinted moisturizer or foundation for combination to oily skin please let me know. 

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥

NOTD: Essie Jump in my Jumpsuit


I love a good red nail polish especially during the Holiday season. I picked up Jump in my Jumpsuit from Essie's latest collection. It's a classic red and perfect for this time of year. The formula is pretty good. You would be able to get away with one coat but I noticed a few nails that needed a little but of an extra coat so I ended up doing two coats. This polish wears for about three days on my nails. I noticed some chipping on the second day. I don't expect a nail polish to last a whole week on my nails without chipping but I at least expected there to be no chips for at least two days. I'm just being picky here because I'm comparing it to my favorite reds from OPI. It's a really pretty color and probably the most Holiday-like shade in Essie's Winter collection )apart from Jiggle Hi Jiggle Low which I am thinking about picking up.) 

What's your favorite red nail polish?


Sincerely, JoJo.♥

November Favorites!



November is one of my favorites months of the year. I know that I say that every month flew by but I feel like November went by so fast. I feel like November just started and now it's the end of the month and the end of the semester. November was a very eventful month for me. I went to New York/New Jersey for my cousin's wedding, it was my birthday and the holiday/Christmas season began at my house. Lots of school work and projects were done as well. I don't have many favorites this month because I've been using the same makeup products every day, there are just some cheeky additions.

YSL Volupté Sheer Candy Gloss Balm in #5 Mouthwatering Berry
I have no excuse for spending a ridiculous amount of money on a lip product. All I can say is that it was my birthday and Sephora was having their VIB sale so it was a birthday present to myself. I swatched it, walked around the store and kept going back to it so I just had to have it. (Also I saw Amelia Liana haul this and it made me even more excited about getting it.) I'm actually obsessed with this lip product. I'm not usually a big fan of reddish lips but because this is sheer it looks amazing and works with any look whether it's casual or dressy. It's described as a reddish berry.  It just makes my lips look so nice and I love it. It looks beautiful with minimal makeup and a full face of makeup. This is obviously a product that needs reapplying throughout the day as it is sheer and a glossy balm product. Be aware of that and you won't be disappointed. It fades away evenly so you never get that weird patchy looking lip. I also find that it leaves a hint of a stain on your lips. The packaging is beautiful. In my opinion if you only buy one YSL product get this one. (P.S. I think the Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me is a good alternative if you want a shade like this without spending the money on the YSL one. MAC Plumful also has a similar appearance on my lips.)

Essie Jump in my Jumpsuit
I love a good red nail polish. This one is what I would call a true red because it's a mix of warm and blue tones and leaning towards being more of a cherry red which is the red I prefer. This is the only shade in Essie's Holiday collection that I thought was appropriate for the holiday season. This requires 1-2 coats for full opacity. I say 1-2 because some nails looked fully opaque after 1 coat but others needed 2 coats so I ended up doing 2 coats on all my nails. The wear time isn't that long. By 3 days quite a few of my nails were quite chipped. I would say this is perfect if you want a red nail polish for an event.

Pearl Earrings
I got these as a gift for my birthday and I just love them. I keep finding an excuse to wear them. I've been wanting pearl earrings for a while now and I'm so glad to finally have a pair.

Random Favorites 

Movies:
The Hundred-Foot Journey
The Christmas Shepherd

Music:
What A Glorious Night - The Sidewalk Prophets
We Have A Savior - Hillsong Worship
I Lived (One Republic cover) - Caleb + Kelsey

Youtube:
velvetgh0st (Gabriella)

Sincerely, JoJo.♥

NOTD: Essie Merino Cool


I love me so Essie nail polish. Merino Cool is a really pretty shade. It's described on essie's site as a sensuous autumn mulberry. I'm not entirely sure what that means but it's a perfect shade for autumn. It's a deep taupe shade with grey and purple undertones. In some lights it looks more purple. The formula is pretty good. Two coats is opaque enough but I did three coats because I felt like some nails needed a little extra. I would definitely recommend this shade because I own nothing like it in my collection and I think it's pretty unique. Essie polishes typically last 3-4 days on my nails with minimal chipping. The prices vary from $7.99-$9.99 depending on where you buy them but you can find it on sale at Target sometimes.

Sincerely, JoJo.♥

October Favorites!


October has been a very busy month for me. I've been using products that have been working very well for me and most of them are included in my monthly favorites this month.

NYX Butter Gloss in Tiramisu
The NYX Butter Glosses are my favorite lip glosses. I've been reaching for the shade Tiramisu a lot because it's deeper nude shade with a hint of pink so it's kind of like my lips but a little more nude. It's a great shade for an everyday makeup look because it looks natural even though it has shine. It feels very smooth on the lips and not sticky. I highly recommend the Butter Glosses and I would love to get my hands on more.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in 51 Vanille Clair 
I've been a huge fan of the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum foundation but I've been wanting to try the original Healthy Mix foundation to see how the two compare. I have to say that I love them both. The Healthy Mix foundation is a little more matte than the serum version but it has the same amount of coverage and lasting power on me. I feel like it has light to medium coverage that is easily blendable and it lasts all day when set with powder and a setting spray. The color is perfect for my skin tone. The only thing that bugs me is that my forehead and nose gets shiny throughout the day, but it's fine once I blot.

Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder in 52 Vanille
This has become one of my favorite setting powders. It's extremely finely milled. You only need the tiniest amount. I find that my face gets less oily throughout the day when I use this powder. I also like that it has a slightly yellow undertone because it makes my undereye area appear brighter. It seems to make my makeup last all day. This powder is worth all the hype that it gets.

Gosh Natural Blush in 42 Melon
I've seen Gosh products at my local drugstore for years but never tried any of them. Their blushes are always talked about so I knew I had to try one. I've been wanting to try their blushes for a while but they were always sold out. I finally saw a fully stocked display and decided to go with the shade Melon because it's a peachy-orangy-coral color. It has a more matte finish than I'm used to but I love it. It looks really natural and makes you look awake and cheerful. Now I want all the blushes from their range.

Essie Merino Cool
This has been my go-to nail polish this more. The shade is described as mulberry. It's a beautiful shade that is perfect for this time of year. I love that it makes a statement but it's still a neutral.

Random Favorites 


TV Shows 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Peralta & Santiago is my new OTP)
Gilmore Girls (I love marathoning this show. It's like reliving my childhood.)

Music
You're Not Alone - Owl City ft. Britt Nicole
Help Me Find It - Sidewalk Prophets
Top of the World - Anthem Lights
Love You Like the Movies - Anthem Lights
Something Beautiful - NEEDTOBREATHE

Youtube
I Ship It (short film)

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥

Dior Nail Glow: My Nails But Better?


Dior Nail Glow has been on my wishlist for the past year. I finally decided to pick it up a few weeks ago. According to Sephora this product is supposed to make the pinks of your nails pinker and the whites of your nails whiter. It's supposed to enhance your natural nail and give them a natural and healthy glow. I agree that it does in fact do exactly what it's described to do. My nails had a healthy and glowy appearance (essentially it was my nails but better). It almost looked like I got a french manicure. I loved it! My only issue is that it doesn't last long. I would say that your nails look really nice for about 3 days. After 4 days the polish starts wearing off and it starts looking patchy on some nails. For $26 CAD I was hoping that this would last for about a week. I know that chipping happens no matter how much you pay for a product. I guess I just had very high expectations for this product. I don't regret buying it because it's a great way have a polished nail appearance when you don't feel like doing a complete manicure. I will be using it when I need to dress professional or when I can't decide on a color to paint my nails (which happens often). This is a nice product to have if you're a nail polish addict like me but I wouldn't call it a must-have product. I mostly bought this as a treat to myself.

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥

September Favorites!


I know everyone says that the past month went by so fast but it really did. So much has happened in September. School started, I went to my cousin's wedding and my other cousin's bridal shower, I started volunteering for a mentor program that I'm really excited about and I got sick. I don't have many beauty favorites this month because I didn't have time to really try a lot of things, but I really love the things that are included here.

Essie Ladylike
Described as a soft elegant mauve it is the perfect shade for any occasion, whether it's a wedding or just an ordinary day. It's a mauve version of a nude shade. It makes your nails look polished. I can't believe I waited so long to try it.

The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 01
The cause of my purchasing this bronzer is the essiebutton effect. Estée has mentioned this bronzer a lot and it was always on my list of products to try. I'm so glad I did because it warms up my face without making it look orange. The actual bronzer looks a little orange in the pan and when you swatch it but once you apply it and blend it out it just makes your complexion look better. Before trying this bronzer I was never a big fan of bronzers because they were either too orange or looked muddy. This has become my favorite bronzer and I reach for it at least a couple times a week.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra
There was a point this month where I had a really annoying cold and my skin was feeling and looking very dry. This got rid of my dry patches overnight. The product dries quickly so you don't think it's going to do anything but somehow it just works so well. I've been using this morning and night and my skin hasn't been dry. I also like wearing this under makeup. It seems to help my foundation apply more smoothly. It doesn't help in matifying my t-zone though but it helps when you have troubled skin.

Random Favorites

TV:
Red Band Society
Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Music:
Spotify (It's now available for everyone in Canada. I highly recommend that you download it.)
Love Too Much - Hunter Hayes
I Did With You - Lady Antebellum
Be With You - Anthem Lights (watch the video, it's awesome)
Boomerang - Anthem Lights
A Whole New World (from Aladdin) - Caleb + Kelsey

Food:
Roasted Tomato Soup (best soup ever)

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥

NOTD: Essie Ladylike


I've been wanting to get Essie's Ladylike nail polish for quite some time but it was either sold out or I would tell myself that I have too many nude polishes. I finally decided to get it because I wanted a pretty polish to wear to two formal events this past weekend. I got the nail look that I was looking for; a classic looking manicure.

Essie describes this shade as 'an elegant soft mauve'. I completely agree with that description. In some lights it looks like a taupe/nude but in natural sunlight it looks like a muted purple/mauve. It makes your nails look polished and classy. This could work for any occasion whether it's work, school, formal or casual.

The formula on this polish is really good. You only need two coats for full opacity. I did three coats even though I would have been fine with two. The polish lasts four days with chipping only visible on my thumb. I was very impressed but this polish and I could kick myself for not picking it up sooner.

Essie polishes retail for $7.99-$9.99 depending on where you buy them. I got mine at Target for $7.99. I think everyone should have this polish in their collection.

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥

NOTD: Sinful Colors Starfish


Sinful Colors is a nail polish brand that I see at Target all the time but it looks me a long time to try it. I never found any shades stood out to me until I saw this one. Sinful Colors Starfish is a cool-toned pink shade. In some lights it looks like a muted pink, almost nude shade but in direct sunlight it looks like a brighter cool-toned pink. I don't have any colors like this in my collection. I'm not the biggest wearer of pink nail polish. I prefer a good nude or a red and even a blue from time to time. When I wear pink nail polish I tend to take it off after a few days.

The formula is pretty good. I was surprised by how easy it was to apply considering I paid $1.99 for this nail polish. It went on creamy for the most part. On some nails the first coat applied a little streaky but once I went in with a second coat it was opaque. I applied two coats on all of my nails but did three coats on my thumbs just to make sure everything was opaque.

It doesn't have the best wear time in my opinion. It looked perfect on the first day. On the second day I noticed some wear on the edges of my nails. It didn't chip but it was starting to fade on the very tips of the nails. One the third day I noticed some chipping on three nails and two nails looked like the polish had cracked on them.

Overall this is a beautiful shade and works well if you need your nails to look polished for a day or two. Considering that it costs $1.99 I'm not disappointed. I probably won't reach for this shade often but when I feel like wearing pink nail polish I'll definitely wear this polish again.

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥

August Favorites!


I honestly can't believe that it's already the end of August. I feel like my summer just flew by.  Here is what I've been loving this month.

NYX Baked Blush in Chiffon 
I found myself reaching for this blush a lot. The texture and wear time of the blush reminds me a lot of the MAC Mineralize Blushes. This color is a shimmery nude shade. When I first saw it I didn't think it looked like much but when I swatched it I loved it. It gives a subtle polished look to any makeup look. It's perfect for every day and an occasion in my opinion. I've also been told that I have nice skin while wearing this blush. I highly recommend trying the NYX Baked Blushes.

Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation & Powder Foundation
This foundation feels really light on the skin yet it gives medium to full coverage. When combined with the powder foundation you get a flawless coverage. When wearing these two products together I've been told that I have flawless skin which made me laugh because I was wearing this in the middler of a very visible breakout. The foundation seems to be best applied with fingers and blended in with a brush. The powder works well with a brush but the little puff that comes with it is good for touch ups or making sure you cover specific areas like the redness on my nose. The products are amazing and so is the price.

Nivea A Kiss of Olive Oil & Lemon
This has been my lip balm of choice for the past month and a half. I bought it in Florida and loved it so much that I bought a backup as well. I'm so annoyed that I can't get this here. It's so moisturizing on the lips. The scent takes a bit of getting used to but the product is amazing.


Bite Beauty Lumious Crème Lipstick in Musk + Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in Nudist 

This has been my favorite lip combo. Bite Beauty Musk is described as a pink brown. The formula is creamy and it just glides onto your lips. It's not matte but it's not too shiny either. All the hype about the Bite Beauty lipsticks is true and well deserved. The Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in Nudist is a sheer pinky nude that just adds shine and a subtle nude hint to your lips. I like wearing this on top of the Bite Beauty lipstick because it makes the shade look less brown on my lips and it gives it a nice shine.

NYX Baked Blush in Chiffon, Bite Beauty lipstick in Musk, Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in Nudist


Random Favorites 

Books:
On the Fence by Kasie West
Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Magnolia by Kristi Cook
A Bouquet of Love by Janice Thompson

Movies:
Chef
Belle
No Reservations

Music:
Somebody to You - The Vamps ft. Demi Lovato
Echo - Colton Dixon
Through All Of It - Colton Dixon
I Choose Jesus - Moriah Peters

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥

Curl Cream: A Revolution for Curly Hair


A few months ago I was reading a magazine and there was a page about styling curly hair. I'm always interested in articles like that because I have extremely curly hair and it's quite a task to find products that work for me. I spent many years hating my curly hair and doing everything to make it straight. I still prefer it straight but I've learned to embrace the curls. A large part of embracing the curls is because of my discovery of curl cream.

Before going on vacation this summer I was browsing through the travel section of Target and I found the Marc Anthony Curl Envy Perfect Curl Cream. I decided to try it because I figured it would come in handy when I left my hair natural (which I did the entire time I was in Florida). The product specifies that has a humidity shield. It really does. I followed the instructions on the back of the tube that say to apply it on damp hair from root to tip and either let it air dry or dry it with a diffuser. I let it air dry. When I usually let my dry naturally I end up with giant frizzy curls that make me look like a poodle. When I use this curl cream I get controlled curls. This gives me a messy I woke like dis type of curl. There is no frizz and lots of shine. I've also been using this product when I dry my hair straight because of its humidity shield. It seems to work well as a heat protectant spray and makes my hair look shiny and not frizzy which is what I want especially when I straighten my hair. The product also has a nice scent. I'd say it has a subtle citrus scent, possibly lime. Overall, the only thing you really need to know is that it works like a charm.

Curl cream is my new favorite hair care product and I think anyone with curly hair should try it. This travel size Marc Anthony one was about $2-$3. This is actually my second tube of the travel sized version. When I run out of this I will be purchasing the full sized product. I wish curl cream was around when I was in high school because it would have spared me from putting so much mousse in my hair that it became crispy and unpleasant to touch.

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥

Twenty Beauty Questions...




1. What is one product you'd grab if your house was on fire?

My Lorac Pro Palettes. I can't get them in Canada so I would be very upset if I lost them.

2. Which beauty blogger would you want to do your makeover?
Lisa Eldridge. She's extremely knowledgeable about makeup and beauty. All her videos are extremely detailed and she would create a beautiful look. Talking to her would be amazing as well.

3. What celeb do people think you look like?
I honestly don't think anyone has told me I look like any celebrities. In high school my friend once told me I looked like Blair Waldorf because she said I dressed like her. I went through a phase where I always wore headbands.

4. What beauty product do you save for date night?
I don't save a certain product. I just spend more time blending to ensure that everything looks natural and that I have a flawless base.

5. Which of your guy friends take longer than you to get ready?
I don't know. I don't have many guy friends.

6. If you could create your own miracle beauty product what would it be?
It would be a product that instantly gets rid of all blemishes on your face. The second you apply it to a blemish it will go away and it would make your entire face clear of any zits, blemishes or redness.

7. What's your best beauty tip?
Use an oil or a cleanser to take off your makeup. A wipe is not enough to get everything off. You really need to cleanse the skin and make sure that there is no makeup left before you go to bed.

8. What beauty products do you love to splurge on?
Blush and concealer. I love my NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer. Every concealer that I've tried after using this one is just not good enough. Once you've tried the best of the best nothing compares to it. I'm always looking for the perfect blush that will last all day and be flattering for my skin-tone and I find myself trying out a lot of blushes.

9. Which beauty bloggers would you bring on a shopping spree?
ViviannaDoesMakeup, Amelia Liana and Sarahbelle93x

10. What is your signature scent?
It's either Marc Jacobs Daisy or Bath & Body Works Forever Red.

11. I am on an endless quest for the perfect...
Moisturizer and foundation. I'm always looking for a moisturizer than will balance out my skin, be non-greasy, take away my oil but also hydrate my dry patches and not break me out. I'm always on the hunt for a foundation that will look like a second skin.

12. How many beauty products does it take to get you ready?
I would say 6-8 products. On an everyday basis I usually use foundation or tinted moisturizer, concealer, powder, blush, mascara and lipstick. Sometimes I apply a primer, eyeshadow and eyeliner.

13. What lipstick/lipgloss is in your purse right now?
Dior Addict Lip Glow, Nivea A Kiss of Olive Oil and Lemon and NYX round lipstick in Thalia.

14. Who is your celebrity beauty icon?
Lauren Conrad, Lucy Hale, Sophia Bush, and Blake Lively.

15. Name the beauty brand you'd most love to be a spokesperson for?
NARS. I would buy all their products if I could. It's a brand that I know won't break me out and I've loved every product I've tried from them.

16. What's your current nail polish?
I currently don't have any nail polish on my nails at the moment. I almost makes me sad to say this.

17. Fave mascara right now?
L'Oreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions Waterproof mascara. (It was a ViviannaDoesMakeup enabled purchase.)

18. The last thing you bought at the drugstore?
La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo [+] and the September issue of PeopleStyleWatch.

19. I try never to bee seen without wearing...
Concealer. It just takes away the darkness under my eyes so it looks like I got enough sleep even when I didn't and I feel like that just brightens up my whole face. It also covers any redness and unwanted blemishes that tend to pop up.

20. What's one beauty product you'd always recommend?
The Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl Kajal eyeliners. They're some of the best eyeliners I've found. They don't smudge or irritate my eyes, they're waterproof, and they're really affordable.

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥

July Favorites!


It seems like July went by way too quickly. That's probably because I was in Florida for half of it. I love Florida. It's the third time I go on vacation there. I love waking up early and watching the sunrise over the ocean, seeing palm trees everywhere, going for a walk on the beach and dipping my toes in the water, the breeze from the ocean making the heat bearable, and going swimming every day. Now that I'm back home I miss all those things. There's no doubt in my mind that I will revisit Florida someday. Now onto the favorites.

NYX Butter Gloss
I'm probably the last person to try these glosses but that is because I've never seen them in Canada. I could have bought them online but I'm not the biggest fan of lip gloss so I waited until I could see them in person. Now I understand what the hype is all about. I got the shades Tiramisu, Angel Food Cake and Strawberry Parfait. Tiramisu is the perfect nude in my opinion because it's a darker nude that it becomes a MLBB shade.  I honestly bought it because I'm Italian and Tiramisu is one of my favorite desserts. Angel Food Cake is basically MAC Syrup in the form of a lip gloss therefore it's my ultimate favorite. Starwberry Parfait is a beautiful bright pink. These glosses glide on like butter. They feel smooth and creamy. They feel a little sticky when you first apply them but the stickiness goes away quite fast. They actually have great pigmentation for a gloss. They look beautiful both alone and over a lipstick. The only lip glosses that I wear are from NYX and I highly recommend them.

Real Techniques Blush Brush 
I've seen this brush in countless youtube videos and lots of people love it. I went to ULTA for the purpose of buying this brush. I already love my other Real Techniques brushes so getting the Blush Brush was a no brainer for me. This brush is so soft. It's unlike any other brush that I own. It's great for both contouring and applying blush because it's rounded and kind has a tip at the top. It's a great brush and Real Techniques do amazing brushes.

Maybelline Master Hi-Light Blush in Nude
Last month I was obsessed with the Maybelline Master Hi-Light Blush in Coral and this month I love the one in Nude. While the Coral one is more of a bronzer/blush/highlighter in one the Nude one is more a highlighting blush. On my cheeks it comes off as a pale pink with a cool toned champagney color highlight. I really like how shimmery it looks and it just makes me look glowy.

Milani Bella Eyes Gel Powder Eyeshadow
I've heard some things about these eyeshadows and I knew I wanted to try them. They're $3.99 each. I go the shades Bella Champagne, a beautiful shimmery rosey champagne shades and Bella Cappuccino, a satin matte mid-tone brown. Bella Champagne looks best applied with your fingers. If you use a brush you just get shimmer. When you use your fingers your get the most beautiful color. It's great at brightening your eyes and I find that it makes me look more cheerful. Bella Cappuccino works well applied with a brush. It's very subtle but it gives a nice shadow to your crease. If you don't like wearing dark colors in your crease but you want some definition I recommend trying this shade.

Random Favorites 

TV Shows: 
Girl Meets World

Movies:
The Memory Book

Books:
If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Music:
My Story - Hillsong Worship

Food:
Sweet Potato Pie
Honey Pecan Chicken Salad
Starbucks Passion Iced Tea Lemonade

Sincerely, JoJo.♥