February Favorites 2014

This month, my La Roche-Posay moisturizer ran out and I decided to try the Avene Skin Recovery Cream because it was on sale and I've heard that it's really good. I like it because it moisturizes and soothes my skin. It even moisturizes my dry patches so I don't need to use multiple face creams. For mascara, I've been loving Maybelline The Rocket Waterproof mascara. It lenghtens and adds volume to my lashes without clumping. It's truly waterproof. It doesn't budge at all, even when it's snowing and cold and my eyes get watery. It stays on so well that it's really hard to take off. For nails, I've been using the ELF Nourishing Cuticle Pen. It takes away the dryness around my nails. It works and it's only $1. I've rediscovered my love of Essie nail polish by reaching for one of my favorite shades, Sand Tropez. It's a beautiful nude, the formula is good and it doesn't chip fast. I've been obsessed with the Elf Studio Angled Blush Brush because it blends out my blush perfectly and it feels really soft.

Last but not least my favorite lip product this month has been the Rimmel London Lasting Finish Colour Rush Intense Colour Balm in the shade Keep Mauving. It looks glossy when your first apply it and as the day goes on it wears off into a stain. Keep Mauving is a brownish pink. It's a good MLBB colour. It looks beautiful on the lips. It enhances your natural lip colour and makes any look complete. I'd say it's a cross between MAC Plumful and MAC Syrup. If Plumful and Syrup had a baby it would be this.

Music:

This month I've been listening to Anthem Lights' new album You Have My Heart non stop.

You Have My Heart - Anthem Lights

The Unknown - Anthem Lights

Turn Around - Anthem Lights

That What I'm Looking For - Anthem Lights

Light For You - Anthem Lights

Closer Than The Angels - Anthem Lights

Compass - Lady Antebellum

Player 2 - Meghan & Lucas

I Surrender - Hillsong

Let It Go/Vivaldi's Winter - ThePianoGuys

Books:

Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer

The Dream Dress by Janice Thompson

Youtube:

missglamorazzi's TMI Tag

Recipes:

Zucchini Pasta 

Random:

The Blimey Cow Podcast (you can find it on iTunes)

19 Signs You're Olaf From Frozen 

Sincerely, JoJo. 

Statement Earrings by Majestical Jewelry | AD

I'm very picky when it comes to earrings. I like things that are simple yet elegant. I don't like earrings that have too much going on. I typically wear plain gold hoops everyday. Sometimes I'll switch things up and wear studs. I don't typically wear dangling/statement earrings because they usually seem too big, have too much going on and tend to feel heavy.

These dangling earrings by Majectical Jewelry*are quite long measuring around 4.5". I wouldn't typically wear these earrings but they are really nice. I really like all the textured details on them because they add uniqueness to the earrings but they don't over-embellish them. I love the leafdangling pieces because they make me think of changing seasons. Just looking at these earrings shows that they're good quality. They feel like they're made with good quality materials as well. 

I think these earring are perfect for wearing when you want to make a statement but want to be wearing minimal jewelry. I picture paring these with a plain black dress and black pumps, hair in a sock bun, and bold lipstick for an event or night out. I think they would also look good with skinny jeans, heels and a loose/airy top.

Majestical Jewelry is an online jewelry boutique based in Charleston, SC that has styles to match anyone's personal preferences, fit for any occasion and any budget. Their jewelry ranges from fashion jewelry to luxury jewelry. They provide high quality jewelry at discount prices. If you're looking for anything from everyday wear pieces to special gifts they have it. Their packaging is beautiful and classic. They offer free US shipping on $49.00 or more and low cost international shipping. They accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and Paypal.

Get 20% any order with the coupon code TWENTYOFFNOW or $15.00 any order of $55.00 or more with the code 15DOLLARSOFF.

Sincerely, JoJo.♥

*These earrings were kindly sent to me by Majestical Jewelry for review. 

NOTD: Revlon Colorstay Longwear Nail Enamel in Vintage Rose

I've had my eye on this Revlon nail polish for about a year now. I first heard about it from essiebutton. Her recommendations are always amazing, so I decided to finally try it. Vintage Rose is a colour that I would describe as a dusty rose. It's a classic shade that works well for anything. When you want your nails to have a little bit of colour but you still want them to be neutral this is the shade to go for.

The formula of this is great. 2 thin coats will give you maximum opacity. You might even be able to get away with one thick coat if you're pressed for time. This polish impressed me because I wore it for 3 days and only noticed that one nail had chipped. I wore it in conjunction with the Gel-Smooth Base Coat and the Gel-Shine Top Coat of the same line. I like that it gave my nails a glossy finish and didn't really chip. It claims to wear for 11 days with no chipping. I don't know about that but it is mostly right about no chipping. I've tried Bold Sangria from this line and wasn't really impressed by it but I didn't use the base coat and top coat from this range. I think I will try it again with the base coat and top coat.

This shade is very similar to Essie's In Stitches. I was debating between this polish and the essie one, but I chose this one because it was cheaper. I found Revlon Vintage Rose for $4.49 at Target. I believe that's regular price. They vary in price depending on where you go. I've seen it at Shopper's for $8.59-$9.99. I'd recommend getting it at Target if you can.

Sincerely, JoJo.♥

2014 Sephora Wishlist

There are always beauty products that I keep my eye on throughout the year. Sometimes my want for them goes away and sometimes it lingers for a long time. These are some products that I've been constantly looking at, reading about or swatching.

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita and Never Say Never 

I currently have a huge obsession with NARS. I love their blushes and concealer, and I've been testing out their tinted moisturizer. I've never tried any of their lip products. Their Velvet Matte Lip Pencils get a lot of love. I've had my eye on Dolce Vita because it's a classic everyday shade. It's described as a dusty rose which is a shade I usually gravitate towards because it's very versatile. Never Say Never is on my wishlist because I don't have anything like it. It's out of my comfort zone but it's really pretty. It's described as a lilac rose. Since Radiant Orchid is the colour of the year, I think this shade represents it well.

Dior Nail Glow 

I love wearing nail polish but sometimes I have a difficult time deciding what shade of polish to wear. The Dior Nail Glow would be perfect for those days when I want my nails to look clean and polished but I don't know what colour to wear. It's supposed to enhance your natural nail by making the whites of your nails whiter and the pinks of your nails pinker. Essentially it would be kind of like a french manicure.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation

I've never tried anything from Tarte but I've heard good things about their Amazonian clay products and this foundation. It's supposed to make your skin look healthy and natural while providing full coverage.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Diffused Heat 

The second I saw pictures of this blush I knew I had to have it. It's described as a vibrant poppy combined with Diffused Light for a subtle halo effect. Once I saw swatches of it, it looked like a colour I would wear. I would love to add this to my blush collection.

Sephora Collection Perfection Mist Airbrush Foundation

I love to try new foundations/face base products and I'm always looking for one that will even out my skin tone the best. I've heard a lot about this product. It's seen as a dupe for the Dior Airflash Foundation at a fraction of the cost. I've always wanted to try an airbrush foundation. It's supposed to give your skin a flawless airbrush look.

Hourglass Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss in Truth

I'm not a huge lip gloss fan but this one sounds very moisturizing since the formula contains vitamin E. It's described as a rosy nude which seems like a good shade to wear with any makeup look.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light

The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders have been one of the most raved about products of 2013. Diffused Light is described as a soft, warm, pale yellow that reduces redness (which I have), eliminates shine (which I have in my t-zone), and give skin clarity (which is  awesome). Out of all the powders in this collection this one sounds like the best one for my skin. I've been hesitant to buy it because of the hefty price tag.

Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil in Soft Brunette 

I don't really like filling in my eyebrows because it needs to be precise to look natural. This one has an angled, triangular tip to make it extremely easy to achieve the perfectly shaped brow in seconds.

Sincerely, JoJo.♥

FOTD - "NO MAKEUP" MAKEUP

I like to keep my daily makeup routine really simple. I like to have a base that will even out my complexion and brighten under my eyes because I don't get enough sleep.

First I applied Physician's Formula Organic Wear CC Cream in Light and blended it out with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. Next I applied my trusted NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla under my eyes to make me look well rested and around my nose and chin because I tend to have redness there. Then I set everything with my L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Power in N2. Then on the apples of my cheeks I applied a little bit of MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty with my ELF Studio Angled Blush Brush just to have a natural flush. For my eyes, I just applied a few coats of Maybelline's The Rocket Waterproof Mascara. I've really been loving this mascara because it give length and volume to my lashes and doesn't budge all day. For my brows, I just brush them with a spoolie to make sure they're in place. For my lips, I applied my well loved Dior Addict Lip Glow. I just love this stuff; it's always in my bag.

This was the first time I wore the CC cream and it lasted all day. Setting it with powder is key.

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥

GIRL POWER TAG

I saw various youtubers do this tag and I thought it was something important. I think every girl should do this tag or at least think about the questions.

1. What does Girl Power mean to you?

Being confident and comfortable in your own skin. Letting your inner beauty be more important and your outer beauty. Being there for someone when they need help.

2. What is the best advice you can give to girls who want to be powerful?

Don't be afraid to stand up for what you believe in. Find something that you love and pursue it. Don't let anyone tell you you're not good enough because you are. Don't let anyone pressure you to do something that you're not comfortable with. Don't try to fit in, just be yourself. The right people will accept your for who your are.  It doesn't matter what other people think about you. All that matters is that you're proud of yourself.

3. If you could have any super power, what would it be and how would you use it?

Teleportation so that I could go anywhere in a matter of seconds. I could go see my younger cousin any time and be there to help her through difficult teenage situations. I could go to multiple places and help different people in need all in the same day.

4. Show us your best girl power (picture) pose.

5. What beauty product makes you feel powerful?

Concealer. It brightens up under my eye area and makes me look awake and ready to face the day even when I get only a few hours of sleep. When I was younger it was good for covering blemishes and helping me feel more confident.

6. Why is it important to have power girls as role models?

It shows that your inner beauty is more important than your outward appearance and going after your dreams is worth it. Someone who isn't afraid to stand up for what they believe in is more beautiful that someone rude and selfish.

7. What young up and comer do you think is powerful and why?

I can think of two people but they're not up and comers. They're two powerful, influential woman that have been role models to me for years. One of the first people I think of what I think of a powerful woman is Sophia Bush. She's not afraid to take a stand and support causes that are important to her. She's beautiful inside and out. Another powerful woman that I can think of is Candace Cameron Bure. She's a strong Christian woman and a role model to women of all ages. Besides being an actress, she's also an author and an inspirational speaker. She's not afraid to share her faith and stand up for what she believes in.

Sincerely, JoJo.♥

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion + Review

The Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion + has a lot of hype surrounding it. Everyone knows about this stuff. It's one of those products that gets passed down from generation to generation. In 2013, it was reformulated. Sephora describes it as "a luxurious moisturizer that promotes smooth, healthy looking skin." It's supposed to balance out the moisture for very dry skin to oily kind in the t-zone. Sounds promising right?

Well, I wouldn't call it a luxurious moisturizer. I would call it a basic moisturizer.  For the most part it gets the job done but it's not the best moisturizer out there. It feels really light on the skin and absorbs quickly. It makes skin look smooth when you apply it but when you apply makeup over it you can see the texture of it through your foundation.When I started using it during the summer, I really liked it but now that it's the middle of winter it just doesn't cut it. It's not moisturizing enough for very dry skin. If you have dry patches it doesn't provide enough moisture to remedy that. If I apply it to my dry patches at night, I'll get up the next morning and those flaky dry patches will still be there. I think it would work better for oily/combination skin. I have one other issue with it. It does nothing for my pores. In fact, it makes them appear larger. I don't hate it but I don't think I would repurchase it.

The 1.7 oz tube that I purchased was $17. The 4.2 oz bottle is $32, and the 6.7 oz bottle is $47.

I like the Clinique brand as a whole. As a child, I remember seeing my mother use their products all the time. My first high end foundation was from Clinique and I loved it. (It was the acne solutions liquid makeup. Now it's $33 but it was $24-$26 when I used to buy it.) I like that their products are allergy tested and fragrance free because they're safe for sensitive skin.

What's your favorite moisturizer?

Sincerely, JoJo.♥

ELF HAUL

A few weeks ago I ordered quite a bit from the ELF website because I heard good things about them and wanted to try them out for myself. The main reason I placed an order was for the Kabuki Face Brush and the Small Stipple Brush. I wanted the Lip Exfoliator but it was sold out :(. Here's what I got.

The Studio Angled Blush Brush (I love applying my blush with it. It's soft and makes blending easy.)

The Studio Kabuki Face Brush (Works perfectly.)

The Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powers - St. Lucia

The Studio Bronzers - Golden Bronzer

The Transluscent Mattifying Powder - Transluscent

The Studio Small Stipple Brush (I love it! It's perfect for cream blushes.)

The Essential Lip Balm Tint - Berry (lovely color)

The Studio Eyebrow Kit - Medium

The Essential Eyelid Primer - Sheer (It didn't work out for me. It creased to the point where it didn't even look like I was wearing a primer.)

The Studio Lip Lock Pencil (felt drying on my lips)

The Studio Matte Lip Color - Natural

The Studio Matte Lip Color - Tea Rose (too drying to wear in winter)

With my order I got this free 8 piece Refresh Kit.

The Studio Pigment Eyeshadow - Naturally Nude

The Studio Makeup Remover Exfoliating Cleansing Cloths

The Essential 3 in 1 Base, Top & Strengthener

The Studio Brush Shampoo (gets the job done but I prefer using my Dove bar soap)

The Studio Lip Balm SPF 15 - Nude (too brown for my preference)

The Studio HD Lifting Concealer - Brightening (too yellow and I don't like the texture)

The Mineral Eyeshadow Primer - Sheer

The Essential Nourishing Cuticle Pen (I really like this. It keeps my cuticle area feel soft and smooth.)

So far I've found that ELF products are either a hit or a miss.

What's your favorite ELF product?

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥

FOTD: A Night at the Opera

Last night I went to my school's Opera production of Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream. If you've read Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream the Opera is exactly that but the words are sung instead of spoken. I really enjoyed it. I thought I would share the makeup I wore to the Opera.

Face

I started my priming my face with the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer followed by the Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation in the shade 810 Classic Ivory. I applied my foundation with the beautyblender. I concealed my undereyes and anywhere else that needed concealing with my NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla. I set my makeup with my trusty Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in 001 Transparent. For blush I went with something neutral because my eyes were shimmery; I used the Stila Convertible Color in Peony. I applied my blush with the elf small stipple brush.

Eyes

For my eyes I wanted a natural but shimmery look because I wear matte eyeshadow too much. I started by priming my eyes with my trusty NARS Pro Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base followed by MAC's Painterly Paint Pot. It was snowing so I had to ensure that my eye makeup would stay in place. Then I applied Cream from the Lorac Pro Palette all over the lid and brow bone. In the crease I used Taupe from the Lorac Pro Palette. On the center of the lid I applied the L'Oreal Infallible eyeshadow in Amber Rush. In the inner corner I applied Stila Kitten. I lined my water liner and inner rim with the copper colored eyeliner from the Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips Warm Nude eyeliner (not pictured) and then I applied a light coat of my Covergirl Clump Crusher Waterproof Mascara on my upper and lower lashes (not pictured). Because it was snowing I didn't want to have too much mascara on.

Lips 

For my lips I went with my all time favorite, MAC Syrup.

For Jewlery, I wore the Silver Dame Necklace from BaubleBar. (I couldn't find the necklace on their site anymore.) I like wearing this necklace to add a touch of glam to a simple (usually black) outfit. I wore it for my birthday and during the holidays. I love BaubleBar. I would buy everything on their site if I could. I recently ordered their Iced Lariat Pendant after having my eye on it for the past few months. Bauble Bar offers international shipping to Canada, Australia, The United Kingdom, Singapore, Hong Kong, The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Sincerely, JoJo. ♥