A Blog for Whatever Makes You Sparkle!

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Makeup and Beauty

Holiday/Christmas/New Years Party Makeup!

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Hi there friends!

With Christmas/New Years around the corner (and the parties that come with the holidays!) I find that many of my friends want to do a little something extra with their makeup. I went to a holiday gala this past weekend and was extremely happy with how my makeup turned out! So I decided to share with you the products I used! Lets get to it 🙂


Primer: Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer. Apply this all over a clean face. 

Foundation: I actually used 2 different ones to create this look. Start with Too Faced Born This Way (choose a shade one lighter than your skin tone, it’s easier to bronze your face to warm it up). On top of that foundation I used the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Longwear Foundation Stick.

I like to use the Lancome on my nose and my under eyes because I feel that it blends more smoothly. 

Concealer: Tarte Shape Tape

Powder and Bronzer: Kat Von D Shade + Light Palette

Blush: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Collection in the color Mood Exposure

Highlighter: Becca Cosmetics x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop

Eyeshadow: Anastasia Beverly Hills Sultry Eyeshadow Palette

I used the colors Fresh all over my lid as a base. Next, I used Slate in my crease.  Then, Noir on the outer corners.

After you have those colors down, then you use Cyborg on a flat packing brush on your lid only mainly staying towards the inner corner not going too far out. You really want the silver to transition to the black color. After that I used Pearl on my inner corners and on my brow bone. For my under eye I used slate and then Noir on the outer corner. 

Eyeliner: Tarteist Double Take Eyeliner

I used the Liquid liner on the top and then the pencil side for my water line

To REALLY make my look pop I used the Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in the color Glamrock. I lined the inner corner of my eye and underneath. This was my favorite part of the whole look. It really SPARKLED! 

Brows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer in the color Medium Brown. 

Lashes: Lilly Lashes for Sephora Collection Lash Set in the 3D Mink Miami

Mascara: Benefit Roller Lash

Lips: Kylie Cosmetics Head Over Heels Lip Kit

Setting Spray: Morphe Continuous Setting Spray

That’s all I got for you guys! I got a lot of compliments on this look so I figured I would share with my blog family. 

Thanks for stopping by 🙂 See you on the next one!

<3 Jess

and finalllllllly my Sephora Haul!

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Hi friends!

My oh my oh myyyyyyy it has been a hot minute (over a month) since my last blog post. November literally flew by, I CAN’T EVEN! 

I’ve finally found the time to give you guys my honest opinion about the products from my last Sephora haul. I guess this is kinda nice because I’ve had about 4 weeks to really use the products and gather my legit feedback! So let’s get to it 🙂 

I’m going to start off with a bang here. This is the Tatcha Bestsellers Kit.

I have been dyyyyyyyyyyyying to purchase something from this brand and I’m so glad I finally did. Their products can be a bit pricey but they sure are worth it. This kit was around $75 but you get 4 sample size products which is perfect if you want to try out a few different things. 

I’ll start with the white bottle on the left. It’s called the Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil. You’re probably thinking WTH does that mean (#truth). It’s a makeup remover basically LOL. You just pump 1-2 pumps onto your hand and then massage it all over your face and eyes and then rinse it off with water! I was so surprised with this product because it actually took off all my eye makeup and mascara also. I will be buying this in a full size bottle when this one runs out. 

The rice polish classic is by far the coolest product in this kit. It’s a face exfoliator! You open the little nozzle on the top and then pour out a dime sized amount onto our hands. It comes out like salt lol. But when you massage it onto a wet face it starts to foam up and gently exfoliates your skin. My face always feels so smooth after I use this product. Highly recommend. 

The Tatcha Water Cream is awesome if you want a moisturizer that doesn’t make your face oily. It literally glides onto your face and just soaks up into the skin so your face looks so refreshed and smooth without the shine of an oil. I love love love love this stuff. 

The luminous dewy skin mist is what the makeup community raves about (the purple bottle on the right). This is a makeup setting spray and it does EXACTLY what the name suggests. You spray it all over when you are done applying your makeup and it gives you a beautiful glow without looking oily or wet. 

I have been needing a good pair of lashes for a while (#momlife I never wear lashes anymore LOL). If you haven’t owned a pair of Lilly lashes then now is the time. This collection is a 2 pack which is so great. You can wear each of them about 10 times before you need to toss them. I love that this pack comes with a natural pair (HA ME? NATURAL?) and a more dramatic pair. I’m going to wear the more dramatic pair to a Christmas party tomorrow night! I’m so excited!

So the same way you prime your face, you should prime your eye lids with concealer orrrrrrrr THIS STUFF! The Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion has been my ride or die forever (no but really). You just swipe it on your lids before you apply shadow and your shadow will stay on for a lifetime (ok jk but really it will stay on for about 10 hours). I use this every day. 

This is the only eyelash glue you need. The Duo Eyelash Adhesive. The one I bought was the White/Clear but it also comes in black! It comes out pretty liquidy but when you apply it to your lashes and blow on it to dry it a bit before application, it stays on for so long. I never have problems with my lashes coming off when I use this stuff. 

Ok here’s my first product on the blog that I really wasn’t impressed with. I’m gonna keep it honest here so I’m still going to take the time to post products that I reallllly didn’t fall in love with. This is Milk Kush Mascara. It just didn’t do it for me. I wanted to explore other products and this was a new product on the market when I purchased it. For me, I had a lot of black specks on my cheeks below my eyes throughout the day when I wore this stuff. I would pass on this and get the Benefit Roller Lash instead. 

Yes yes YES! This is the Tarteist Double Take Eyeliner. When I bought this is came in a trio with Brown, Maroon, and Black. What is so great about this eyeliner is that one end is liquid and the other is a pencil. I use this eyeliner every day. I am obsessed. I’m never buying another eyeliner again (ok prob not but really this stuff is sooooooo good). 

This is my favorite product I bought from my Sephora haul. This is the perfect every day/special event/holiday/party eyeshadow palette. It is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Sultry Eyeshadow Palette. These colors have so much color payoff it’s insane. They are so shiny and smoky. This pallet has a perfect blend of matte and shimmer and OMG please just go buy it. If not for yourself, then it’s the perfect gift for someone else. This palette is going to be hard to beat. 

This is the Clarins Extra-Firming Mask. It’s youth in a jar LOL. The directions that come with this mask are so funny. It’s like a full size pamphlet that I obviously didn’t read (ain’t nobody got time for that). BUT that aside, this mask does wonders for wrinkles. I know I know I’m only 27 but I assure you I have wrinkles. The mask goes on translucent and smells fabulous. You wash it off after 7-10 minutes and my face actually looked visibly more smooth and refreshed. I am sure with every day use this will help tremendously. It is a tad pricey but sooooooo worth it. I bought this from a recommendation from my Nicole and I am so happy I did. 

If you are looking for a nude lip color and you’re not sure what to buy, then just go ahead and do yourself a favor and buy this. This was the Sephora Favorites Give Me Some Nude Lip. My absolute favorite from this kit was the Huda Beauty liquid lip on the right. The color is called Trendsetter. I wore the color in my Christmas pictures this year. It’s a perfect nude/brownish shade. Perfect for this time of year.

Alright that’s it for tonight guys! Sorry it took so long for this post. I am going to do another post during my Christmas break! See you guys on the next one 

<3 Jess

Ulta and Sephora Makeup Haul

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Hi Friends,

Happy Sunday! This has to be my favorite day of the week because we get to just chill all day and watch Football! 2 years ago I would have never thought I would say that. You can thank Fantasy Football ha! I may be a litttttttle competitive.

Anywayyyyyyyyys enough about that! Lets dive into this Ulta and Sephora makeup haul.

I will be talking about some items not pictured also! Some items I purchased from the brands direct site, not Ulta or Sephora.

Lets start with my Ulta purchases!

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer

This concealer is my absolute HOLY GRAIL. I have tried sooooooo many concealers and this stuff is the best. If you’re on the hunt for a new concealer just do yourself a favor and buy this one. The first 3 steps in every face makeup routine should be 1. Primer (We will get to this later in the post) 2. Foundation 3. Concealer.

Always choose a concealer that is a shade lighter than your foundation. Apply foundation all over the face and then apply concealer to your under eyes, nose, chin and middle of your forehead.

When you choose a shade lighter it will brighten your face and bring attention to the center of your face!

My shade is fair neutral.

I seriously cannot rave enough about this stuff.

Morphe Continuous Setting Mist

I have been a Mac Fix + die hard for the longest time until I discovered this stuff.

You should always set your makeup when you are finished applying. When you use a setting spray it allows your makeup to stay on way longer. I will even use the spray after I have finished my foundation/concealer/powder before I apply my eye makeup.

What I love about this spray is that its like an aerosol can so it sprays out evenly. It really feels like an even mist as opposed to the Mac Fix +.

Morphe Highlight and Contour Beauty Sponge

I have used MANY beauty blenders/sponges of all different brands (ask my husband LOL). This sponge has to be my favorite one so far. What I love about this sponge is that it doesn’t eat all of your product. A lot of times, the sponge will just soak up all of the foundation/concealer instead of really paying off on your skin. This sponge blends out your product beautifully without soaking up too much product.

Another great feature about this sponge is the straight edge at the bottom. I use it when I bake my contour and for my under eye powder. All around a great product!

Now for my Sephora haul!

Smashbox Be Legendary Liquid Lip

Let my start by saying subtly, I HATE GLOSSES. The color payoff leaves less to be desired and glosses can be very sticky. To be honest, I thought this was a liquid lipstick when I purchased. I tried this Smashbox liquid metal GLOSS and I’m in love. The color payoff is crazy good. The swatch above was with one swipe top and bottom. The gloss is not sticky at all, it’s just the perfect wet gloss. This color is called Metallic Mauve. It’s the perfect color for fall!

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil

If you have never used a white eye liner, then you should start now!!!!!

I use this stuff in my water line (bottom eye liner for you non-makeup ppl lol). It brings attention to your eye color and makes your eyes seem bigger and more awake.

I use this white eye liner for my day time looks and also when I use lots of bright colors for eye shadow!

Highly recommend!

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush – Color: Mood Exposure

This is the perfect fall blush!!!!!!! I have never used Hourglass products until today. This blush is the perfect Mauve color. Personally, I love using Mauve’s around this time of year and brighter pinks/corals for Spring/Summer. This blush formula is so creamy. It doesn’t come off powdery at all. I will be using this until I hit pan for sure!

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer

I have been on the search for a good primer for every day use. I’ve used Benefit, Tarte and Mac primer among others I can’t remember. This primer literally does what its name suggests. It comes out of the bottle completely white but when you blend it into your skin it blends out to a beautiful veil like color. This made my skin so soft and bright. This was another high recommend if you’re looking for a primer.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer – Color: Medium Brown

This was repurchase for me. I have been using eye shadow on a small angled brush to create a more natural look recently. But I have been missing that prominent (or as my friend Nicole says “that Kim K look”). This is the best eye brown pencil you can buy. One end has a spooly and the other end has the perfect angled brow color. It’s just big enough to where you aren’t coloring in your brows for 30 minutes. It’s quick, easy, and looks blended and perfect when complete.

BUY THIS. JUST BUY IT.

I have to add 2 other items that weren’t a part of my Ulta and Sephora hauls.

The first is a nail polish from a new brand.

KL Polish – Tuxedo Mask

This brand was created by beauty guru and YouTuber, Kathleen Lights. I bought this polish just to try it and oh my GAWD I’m in love. First of all, this is the perfect black. The applicator brush is such a cool shape to where one swipe will literally cover your entire nail. I wore this polish this past week to test wear and tear and it didn’t chip AT ALL. NOT EVEN ONE NAIL.

I’m sold. I’ll be purchasing more colors. She has a new Fall in the City bundle out now that has a pretty Medusa green color that I have my eye on.

Radiant Defense Perfecting Liquid Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Let my start by saying I CAN’T EVEN GUYS. This stuff is liquid gold. I have used this every single day since I’ve had it. I can’t even describe how awesome this is. You can use this with any look you are trying to achieve. It’s basically awesome skincare with a color that you use as a foundation. If you want a beautiful natural even skin tone (who doesn’t?), then go to https://laurencardamone.myrandf.com and buy it immediately. You can apply it with a brush or your fingers (honestly I prefer to use my hands). I really can’t say enough good things about this product. Just do yourself a favor and buy it right now.

That’s all I have for you today guys!

Thanks for sticking with me. Please subscribe if you’re interested in being notified when I post new stuff!

I’m having such a great time with this blog so far. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

What do you guys want to see next? Drop a comment below!

Until next time,

Jess

 

 

A Blog Post 3 Years in the Making

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Hi Friends,

I can’t believe I’m actually doing this. *sips wine* (Freakshow to be exact, SO GOOD).

So lets start with happy friYAY, as I like to call it.

I’ve been wanting to start this blog for a long, long time. I’ve had this blog for 2 years now. Every time I go to write my first post, it’s the fear of the unknown that stops me. Fear of failing.

Today I have decided that I officially DON’T CARE about failing. How can I fail when I’m doing something that I love and makes me happy.

What is it that makes me happy?

My husband, my daughter, my family, my dogs, my friends. Makeup. Travel. Motherhood. Boston. Movies. FOOD. Wine. Football. Online Shopping (don’t tell my husband, jk he knows). Puffy Clouds. My garden. Technology. Hockey. Music.

These are the things that make me sparkle. I believe that you can never have too much sparkle.

Thanks for being here guys. If you come on back and visit my blog I promise you some makeup tips, products I love, places I love to eat, cities I love to travel, parenting advice (do I really know though? lol), movie reviews, a whole lot of what makes me sparkle!

I think my next post will be a makeup haul from my most recent Ulta and Sephora purchase!

Love,

Jess

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