face of the day: wearable orange (inspired by cocobella!)

I was reading CocoBella's blog this morning, and she inspired me to do a look today w/orange eyeshadows.

FACE: MAC Face and Body (N1), Clinique Airbrush Concealer (#4), YSL powder, Shu Uemura M Peach 44 blush, Dior Amber Diamond (highlight)

EYES: Urban Decay Jones e/s, Tarina Tarantino Electric Butterfly e/s, Stila Topaz eye kajal (inner rims), MAC Rich Ground Fluidline (upper lashline), MUFE Aqua Eyes 10L (lower lashline), MAC Lingering brow pencil, Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara

LIPS: MAC Viva Glam Gaga lipstick w/Dior Creme de Rose balm underneath

Wow, how ditzy do I look in that second pic?  What's funny is that I was all curled up against the window with my visor down because I felt like this girl in the parking lot was watching me! I felt like if I smiled it'd be obvious I was taking a picture. What a dork, right? haha

I used my MAC 130 brush to apply the Face and Body foundation today - I think I prefer that over using my fingertips. It may actually be bumping NARS Sheer Glow out of the HG foundation spot! It photographs really well, too! <3

Also, I'm really loving Philosophy products lately. I've always loved their 3-in-1's, but I've been exploring the skincare stuff, too, and I'm really impressed.  I'm thinking of doing a skincare routine post if anyone's interested!

Hope you all are having a great weekend.  See you soon!

<3 Jess

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Happy Birthday, Daddo!

Love,

The Original Gaga

fotd, ootd, & a little haul...

Hello lovely readers! I just had a lovely two days off - no matter the rain or... female struggles... (ahem). Tuesday I made the rounds at my favorite shops in the mall. I had a Sephora gift card burning a hole in my wallet, so I used that as an excuse! ;) 

I've been wearing MAC's Face and Body foundation pretty much every day this past week and I loooove it.  Only one problem, though - I think, like Studio Fix Fluid, it might be breaking me out a little.  However, I love it so much that I'm trying to combat it by taking excellent care of my skin and using Mario Badescu Drying Lotion to kill spots when I see 'em.  So far, so good.

Speaking of foundations, anyone try YSL's new one, Teint Radiance, yet? I'm dying to! They had it at Sephora but I didn't dare tempt myself. I must be patient...

Anyhow, onto the good stuff!

FACE: MAC Face and Body foundation, MUFE HD microfinish powder, MAC Dollymix blush, Dior Amber Diamond (highlight)

EYES: MAC Star Violet (lid, lower lashline), Urban Decay Hustle (crease, V) & Sin (brow highlight), Smashbox Heartbreaker liner pen, MUFE Aqua Eyes 18L, Stila Topaz eye kajal, MAC Lingering brow pencil, Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara

LIPS: Tom Ford Blush Nude

(I wasn't trying those tops on - they were left in there!)

DRESS, VEST, & SANDALS: Target

NECKLACE: ? (old!)

BAG: Aldo

WATCH: Betsey Johnson

Like I said, Sephora was the main destination...

WHAT I HAULED: I picked up the Clinique Airbrush Concealer pen in #4 neutral/fair after BelleDuJour raved about it and my YSL Touche Eclat ran out earlier that day (travesty!). The Clinique one is half the price, so I'm excited to give it a go. Just ran out of my Neutrogena Visibly Even moisturizer, too, so I picked up a small jar of Philosophy's Hope in a Jar w/SPF 25. I wish it weren't so expensive - I love this stuff! Also in the Philosophy section was (YAY!) new 3-in-1s for Fall! I was shocked that Red Apple was my favorite, but it's such a true, crisp fresh apple scent.  It makes me thirsty for apple juice like you wouldn't believe! These last forever, too! Next is a Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense lipstick in #22, a really nice nude along the lines of MAC's Creme d'Nude. It's very lightly-scented (NOTHING like Lancome, which I've heard it compared to!) and super-moisturizing -- so far, so good! Last but not least, a Sephora by OPI nail polish in Dating the Drummer, a rich chocolate brown with sparkle.  Can't wait to try it out!

I tried to do a swatch of the MUFE lipstick, but I was totally unsuccessful -- the lighting was awful everywhere!

The Body Shop was having a BOGO 50% off sale on their new Rainforest haircare line, which is silicone-free, sulfate-free, colorant-free, and paraben-free. I decided to try the Moisture ones, mostly because they smell like honey and play-doh! :) I also impulsively grabbed an eyeshadow in shade #41, just because it swatched pretty. Oops!

The Body Shop Eye Colour #41 on lid and lower lashline

My assistant also wanted to say hello...

"Ready for my close-up!"

I'll be back before you know it!

Love,

Jess

face of the day (and some from the past few weeks!)

FACE: MAC Face and Body foundation, MAC MSF Natural, Givenchy Le Prisme blush in In Vogue Orange, Dior Shimmerstar in Amber Diamond (highlight)

EYES: YSL #05 Slate Green e/s, MAC Star Violet e/s, MAC Sand & Sun e/s (under brows), Smashbox Heartbreaker liner pen, MUFE Aqua Eyes 18L, Stila Topaz eye kajal, MAC Lingering brow pencil, Lancome Hypnose Drama + Givenchy Phenom'eneyes mascaras

LIPS: MAC Glaringly Hip dazzle lipstick, MAC Perennial High Style lipglass

 almost a Snooki pouf! (no, I don't watch Jersey Shore!)

Glaringly Hip + Perennial High Style -- pretty combo!

NARS Sheer Glow, NARS Douceur blush, Dior Amber Diamond, YSL #05 Slate Green e/s, MAC Glamour Check, MUFE Aqua Eyes 20L

Givenchy Le Prisme Blush In Vogue Orange, Illamasqua Obey l/s

Givenchy In Vogue Orange (did NOT look this crazy in person, I hope!), MAC Jazzed lipstick

new stuff (mostly vacation hauling, early birthday presents!)

MAC Dazzle lipsticks: Win-Win, Glaringly Hip; Paul & Joe lipstick: Over the Moon (kitty face!!)

Glaringly Hip, Win-Win, Over the Moon (applies really sheer)

Aveda Apricot Whisper blush, Paul & Joe Face & Eye Color in Paper Moon

Fresh Eat & Pray eau de parfums, MAC Face and Body foundation (N1)

Sephora Professionel Platinum Air Brush #55, Adidas watch (40% off at Dillard's), Nars Douceur blush, Dior Amber Diamond, Dior Creme de Rose lip balm

Lush Creme Anglaise sample, Charlotte Island body tint; Sabonette Melodia melon bath soap; Sally Hansen Commander in Chic; Essie Playa del Platinum, Licorice; Revlon Minted; VS Good Day Sunshine lotion

Revlon Minted on nails

Sugarbunnies vanilla scented Shirousa plush (Walmart!)

Aldo handbag; Dizzy bow sandals (Mod Cloth)

Paperchase stickers; Aldo earrings; Sequin bug studs (Nordstrom)

i'm back! vacation, wedding, & july favorites

Hello, lovelies! Sorry I've been MIA for a while.  I went on a two-week vacation to Chicago and Cincinnati to visit my family.  Also, I was a bridesmaid in my cousin Amy(who's also one of best friends)'s wedding.  It was a great trip. As most vacations do, though (ironically), it wore me out! I took loads of pictures and have lots to post about, I just haven't had the energy to do it! :\  I'll be back with more posts soon (hopefully within the next few days or so), but I just wanted to say I haven't disappeared, I'm alive and well, and I'm still checking Bloglovin and Blogger for new posts from everyone else -- even if I'm slacking with my own blog!

I did Amy's makeup for the wedding, as well as one of the other bridesmaids', Amy's stepdaughter's (just some lavender shadow, Viva Glam Gaga patted on, and Dollymix blush!), and of course my own (duh)! I had so much fun doing it, and Amy looked so beautiful! I can't take all the credit, obviously, but I felt proud of myself anyway! haha :)

Here's my wedding look:

FACE: NARS Sheer Glow mixed w/Illamasqua Gleam Cream, YSL powder, MAC Stereo Rose MSF

EYES: MAC Smoke & Mirrors palette, MAC Lingering brow pencil, MUFE Aqua Eyes 18L, Smashbox Heartbreaker liner pen, Lancome Hypnose Drama

LIPS: MAC Jazzed lipstick + Fashion Whim cremesheen glass

...and the nails (toes were OPI You Don't Know Jacques):

Essie Playa Del Plantinum + Essie Licorice on tips

(ring from Dillard's)

I wish I had a decent picture of Amy's wedding look to show you, but none of my pics of her came out really clear -- as soon as I come across one, I'll be sure to share it with you all!

I do have this goofy pic of us gettin' down at the reception, though! haha

I also have my July favorites to share, so here they are. :)

MAC Stereo Rose MSF

Illamasqua Gleam Cream

Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment

NARS Turks & Caicos multiple tint

MAC Smoke & Mirrors palette (from the Holiday '09 collection)

MAC Fashion Whim cremesheen glass

MAC Jazzed lipstick

See you all soon!