I really don’t exchange gifts with very many people. My gift exchanges typically consist of my parents and little H so this list, as much as anything, is a list of items of various price points that I hope to end up with in the upcoming year!
Dry Bar 3-Day Bender 1.25″ Digital Curling Iron— As most people know, I love curling rods. I have a plethora of items to help me curl and bend my hair into every which way, but there is something about this tool that I especially like. I don’t know which quality I like better, the fact that it gets extremely hot, which my thick coarse hair appreciates, or that it is a combination of automatic and manual movements. Either way, I love it.
Louis Vuitton Zippy Wallet — Every wish list needs a big ticket item, and this one is mine! Earlier this fall I purchased my first Louis Vuitton purse, the medium sized Never Full. Because it was so expensive and probably the only one I will have for a long time, I opted for the traditional monogramed pattern. Even as I purchased it, I wished that I had the money for the Zippy Wallet in the Damier Ebene Canvas pattern. It is the perfect wallet for all of my needs: plenty of room for cards, holds your cash flat and zips up to keep all of your belongings safe.
Iluminage Skin Rejuvenating Eye Mask — For most of my life I have had terrible sleeping patterns. One of my biggest struggles is that I sleep softly. For years I have read the benefits of using eye masks to block out light and recently I found the Illuminate Eye Mask. This copper infused mask, like typical eye masks, blocks out light while also fighting fine lines and wrinkles!
Yeti Rambler 30 oz. — I have always struggled to drink enough water. It’s weird because I love water, but I have noticed I can only drink it if it is extremely cold. Enter, the Yeti. The Yeti Rambler is a 30 oz. travel mug that keeps cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours and (hot drinks warm for 12 hours). While not as cute as some other options (Swell, Contigo, etc.), it is the perfect size and function!
White Bluetooth Ear Muffs — I love ear muffs, but living in Texas does not provide me with many opportunities to wear them. Of course a silly thing like weather does not impact my accessory choices! What makes these particular ear muffs even better is the fact that they are bluetooth enabled! I can listen to my favorite music while also keeping my ears warm. Perfect combo!
Big O Key Ring— A few years ago, I was in my favorite Starbucks and while I was looking around at all of the moms getting their caffeine boost before taking their kids to school, I noticed that many of them had these leather bracelets that held all of their keys. It took me a long time to find where to purchase them (apparently, it didn’t occur to me to ask someone).
Clinique Skin Repair Serum — A wish list of mine would not be complete without a skin care product! That honor goes to Clinique’s Smart Custom-Repair Serum. What sets this serum apart from the rest is the fact that it modifies to your specific skin. Because of this, it can be used with any skin type! While fighting the typical fine lines and wrinkles, it also boasts the ability to return your skin to it’s youthful glow!
ReMEDies Cool Mist Humidifier — A humidifier is one of those items that I have always wanted, but never cared enough to truly purchase for myself. The more I read about them though, the more I think I need one. I have terrible sinuses and can’t tell you how many mornings I wake up with headaches. Supposedly cool mist humidifiers help that. Additionally, they are great for your skin during the winter!
Blanket Scarf — Like most winter accessories, I always feel a little ridiculous loading up on scarves, but all fall this particular blanket scarf has been popping up on my Facebook feed. Finally, one day I clicked on it and LOVED it. The red and black version is totally me and I love that I can wear it in so many different ways. This is something I am definitely hoping for this holiday!
NuFace Mini Facial Toning Device — I am a huge fan of Korean Skin Care Routines. Part of the protocol consists of facial massages to stimulate the skin. This is the step that I struggle with the most, but this device will take care of that for me! There is a large version that consists of various add ons to focus on target areas (corners of mouth, crow’s feet, etc) but I think this one is good enough for me!
That completes my 2015 wish list (or at least my top 10 wishes)! What are you hoping for this holiday season? Follow my Instagram @Jessicasgoneviral to see which wishes become reality!
Life has been crazy busy with the end of my school semester, various work obligations, the holidays and of course, my personal life.Because I have fallen behind on sharing the progress of my lip challenges, I have decided to combine the last week of my November Lip Challenge with the first week of my December Mini Lip Challenge (I participated in #7lippies7days on instagram).Get ready for a serious lip diary!
Monday, November 23, 2015
I woke up this morning and knew I needed to wear something bright.I remembered picking up Mac Pickled Plum recently and decided to put it on.I always think that’s a silly name for this color.Colors with “plum” in the name should be purple shades, not pink.I also tried out my new T3 Single Pass Flat Iron, thoughts?
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Last year, I was discussing my love of red lipstick with a friend of mine.She told me her holy grail is Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, Dragon Girl (she also told me that this is the red Taylor Swift swears by).The combination of red lipstick and Taylor Swift was too much for me to avoid.Later that day, I went to Sephora and picked it up.For some reason this color has never looked the same on me twice, and often looks extremely pink.Luckily I love it either way.FYI, this is by far the reddest this color has ever looked on me.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
I haven’t left my house in days, but needed to run some errands. I wasn’t interested in putting on any makeup, but at the last minute decided to apply some lipstick.I was really excited to receive some Nars Velvet Matte lip pencils from Sephora for my birthday, but always forget about them.I decided today was the perfect day to put on Cruella!
Monday, November 30, 2015
i can’t believe today is the last day of November.I have decided to participate in an additional lip challenge this week, the #7lippies7days ,so I am double counting this picture.The first prompt for the 7 Lippies challenge is “nude”.I actually don’t have any nudes, and this is the closest I get: Nars Rikugien Satin Lip Pencil.Rikugien was the second part of the Sephora birthday gift and I actually like it much more than I thought I would!
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Today’s #7lippies7days prompt was “orange”.While I love the color orange, I do not love wearing orange makeup.After scouring my lip drawer I came across “Barbecue” from Mac’s Toledo collection and thought it was the perfect choice.I don’t know why this collection wasn’t more popular, I love a lot of the colors.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Today’s prompt, “pink”, was a no brainer for me.I have been looking for an excuse to pull out Mac’s Girl About Town lipstick and lipglass.I have a serious soft spot for bright pinks, and although it may not be the most seasonably appropriate color, it is truly one of my favorites.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
I love berry lips so I was thrilled with today’s “berry/purple” prompt.I went back and forth between a few colors before landing on Too Faced Melted Berry.This was one of my first liquid lipsticks and I think the color is gorgeous.I had a bit of a feathering issue today, which had never happened before, but I still love how it looked!
Friday, December 4, 2015
As you can imagine, I couldn’t wait for today’s prompt: “red”.Obviously, red lipsticks are my true love and I had a tough choice on my hands.Luckily, I had just received a new one the day before, and I couldn’t wait to try it out: Mary Kay’s True Dimensions Lipstick in Firecracker.This is the first time I have worn any Mary Kay lipsticks.I loved the color, it was a great shade and not one I have.The finish is pretty shiny, which I like, but because of it’s soft texture, it does spread a little bit.The best part about this lipstick is just how moisturizing it is.I love lipsticks that also make my lips feel great.
Saturday, December 5, 2015
I had been thinking about this prompt all week “gloss”.I really don’t like to wear glosses on their own, plus I knew I had some holiday infused festivities planned for today, so I didn’t know what to wear.In the end I decided to layer Mac Tenor Voice lipstick and lipglass.I know I say this alot, but this really is one of my favorite colors.Anytime I want a real standout lip, this is what I go with.Additionally, it is a perfect holiday red!I sort of broke the rules, but oh well, I’m a rebel.
This completes the November Lip Challenge and transitions me into my December Mini Lip Challenge where I will wear different shades each day for the first few weeks of the month!Follow my challenge on my Instagram page @Jessicasgoneviral.
During November my social media is constantly inundated with daily adorations.People share each day one thing they are thankful for.I always think this is lame because by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, they have run out of things they are truly thankful for and share really weird things, I mean who cares?So instead of participating in this tired ritual I channeled my inner David Letterman and came up with my Top 10 Reasons I am Thankful — 2015!This may get a little long and mushy, but I will only do it once a year so whatever.
My parents — Okay I know a lot of people start with their parents because everyone’s parents do so much for them.Mine do as well, they are the best and I couldn’t imagine getting through this thing called life without them.That’s not why I am thankful though.My parents are the type of people everyone needs in their life.They are my loudest cheerleaders, staunchest supporters and always have my back (even the few times I may have been in the wrong).Nobody could ask for better squad members than Plano John and Kit Kat.My mom has this insane quality of reprimanding me while at the same time plotting the demise of those who wronged me; she still harbors resentment towards a girl who was mean to me in high school (15 years ago). My dad, who most of the time I think tunes me out, shocks me with what all he knows about me.After telling him that a friend wants to dress up as Taylor Swift for Halloween, he shows up four days later with “the perfect gun holster” for her costume.All in all, they are awesome.
My Brother — While many people would lump “family” into one, my brother totally deserves a special shout out.Red is by far the most influential person in my life, which is not easy for someone who only speaks 5 words.Every major decision I have made can some how be traced back to this guy.Without him I would not have the heart, patience or compassion that I do.Sure, I have to lock up my toilet paper, but every sibling relationship has their issues.(Of note: my brother has autism which explains the lack of conversation skills and my need to walk around my house with a key around my neck).
Jaime — Everyone needs a ride or die chick in their life, not just rappers, and Jaime is mine.Jaime is one of those people that always has a plan for a good time.While almost everyone loves going to a movie, she finds ways to make even the most boring movie an “event” with wardrobes, props and tons of pictures.She is more than just a fun time though, she is an incredible listener, finds ways to fix the unfixable and is truly one of the strongest people I know; just don’t cross her.Just for the record, she is completely exhausting but I suppose in the long run, she is totally worth it.
A PROPer Valentine’s Day 2015
The H Team —One of the highlights of my job (more to come on that) is the fact that I get to meet and know so many amazing people. While I have become close with many people at the ECEC, nobody is more special to me than my favorite 5 year old, Harper. First off, Harper is awesome. She is clever, exuberant, seriously funny and has the sweetest soul you can ever have the privilege of getting to know. When I met Harper she was 18 months old and walking across a table like it was her personal catwalk. I knew I loved her instantly. Little did I know, more than three years later I would be picking her up from kindergarten and listening to her read to me. She loves life and makes everything fun and exciting. While she loves all things girly, she is also creative and loves building and learning. Although I would love to take credit for this (I was an amazing Mini Tot teacher after all), Harper has an incredible family. Her parents have infused her life with love, encouragement and opportunities to learn, explore and create. Sure, they are busy (we are talking serious power couple here), but they ensure she is surrounded by people who love and support her. They have allowed me to become such an integral part of her life, simply because she loves me. They always include me in her special events (birthdays, graduations, random Valentine soirées) because they recognize she would want me there. While this may not seem like that big of a deal, it really is. Simply put, Harper (and her family) are awesome.
Harper drew us BFF necklaces
ECEC — Before I worked at the ECEC I was homeschooling a girl with autism and I was miserable.One day while venting to a friend of mine over sushi, she mentioned the school she was working at was looking for a few staff members.I applied instantly and was fortunate enough to be hired a few weeks later.I know many people claim to love their job, but I REALLY do.Not only did the ECEC lead me to Harper, it is a genuinely great place to work.Everyday I get to come to work, see some of my best friends, play and snuggle with young children and help families find ways to best meet the various needs of their children.I can’t really ask for more than that.
Nicki Minaj — Okay this might seem kind of random, but bear with me.This summer I my Uncle Bill passed away.I am not going to pretend that we had the relationship where we talked everyday, we didn’t.We had the type of relationship where every time Apple released it’s new line of iPhones, we would text back and forth about whether or not we just HAD to have it (we almost always did).It worked for us and I always loved him.He passed away suddenly in July and my dad and I went to Chicago to start the never ending task of dealing with his estate.“Hey Mama” by Nicki Minaj and David Guetta was the song of the summer and each time it came on the radio, I would turn it up and tell my dad how much I loved it (again, my dad is awesome for simply letting this happen over and over again).On my last night in Chicago, I was looking through his computer and realized that he had purchased “Hey Mama”.Hidden in the various 80’s country songs he had in his library was this little gem.I wish I knew what lead him to buy this and I think about it a lot.Now, every time I hear this song, I get an instant smile on my face.For that reason, I will forever be thankful to Nicki Minaj.
Hulu Commercial Free Plan — I am an incredibly busy person.I have a full time job, hang out with Harper at least two nights a week, and I am enrolled in a full time Ph.D program.Because of this, I love mindless TV.I love just vegging out in bed with shows I don’t need to think about, which is why I was devastated this summer when my favorite show, The Mindy Project was cancelled.I was nearly inconsolable for the 48 hours it took for Hulu to announce they had picked it up.I quickly subscribed and discovered that they air commercials (I hate commercials with a passion).This was made even worse when I realized I couldn’t even fast forward through them.I was miserable watching these shows, unable to fast forward and worried that I was going to have to cancel my subscription and lose Mindy.Shortly after subscribing Hulu announced acommercial free plan and it is amazing.It allows me to catch up on so many of my favorite shows (including General Hospital) without being interrupted with pesky commercials to fast forward through.It is the best $3 I spend each month.
My Competitive Spirit — As I mentioned, I am working on my Ph.D.I am, without a doubt, the worst doctoral student.I really hate going to class, and would always rather read about new eyeshadow pallets and Korean skin care than evidence based teaching practices.The only thing that keeps me going down this Ph.D path is the fact that I am incredibly competitive and want to be the first one of my (real world) friends with this degree.My competitiveness also makes it nearly impossible for me to quit things, no matter how hard they are!
Ulta Rewards— Obviously, I write a beauty blog and I can not let Thanksgiving go by without being thankful for something cosmetics related.I am obsessed with Ulta’s Rewards program.If I’m totally honest, Sephora carries way more brands and items that I love, but I rarely shop there.Instead, I shop almost exclusively at Ulta, checking my app each day to see if there are bonus offers to activate and hoard points so that I can purchase big ticket items like my Clarisonic Opal and T3 Interchangeable Styling Wands at hugely discounted prices.Seriously, start investing in the Ulta Rewards program!
This #Basic Life — I can’t lie, I have an awesome life.Sure, I have my problems, everyone does but I am also blessed with incredible people and opportunities.My family is wonderful and make my life better in more ways than I will ever share with them.I have fantastic friends who like to do lame things, such as seasonally appropriatephoto shoots in pumpkin patches, tulip farms and bluebonnet fields (just to name a few).I have an awesome job (or two, or three) and actually get paid to hang out with some of my favorite people and do fun things!I don’t think I could ask for any more than that!!!
**Bonus thank you to my friend Jennifer who is the biggest supporter of my blog.She is the one who hounded me until I finally resumed writing and proof reads each and every blog I publish (except this one).She never gets the thank you she deserves, but I am truly grateful!
I am a total sucker for holiday lists. As soon as they start popping up all over my social media accounts, I excitedly click through them discovering items that I never knew I couldn’t live without. This year I am creating my own list for all of the beauty loving, techie, fashionistas in your life! These are my very favorite products that make me happy and make me, “me!” I am starting off with my favorite beauty and skincare products, stay tuned for part two!
For the makeup enthusiast in your life
I haven’t been wearing makeup that long (roughly a year and a half), but in that time I have researched, tested and reviewed countless brushes, palettes and products. Below are a list of my very favorite products that any makeup lover would love to add to their collection.
Urban Decay Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush. I am absolutely obsessed with this brush. If I could take only one face brush to a deserted island I would quickly pack this one away. It smooths out my cc creams and foundations with such ease and smoothness. I haven’t found another brush that remotely rivals this one!
French Kisses Melted — $25 Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love Too Faced Melted Lipsticks. The colors! The shine! The length of wear! I love them. Too Faced has released this set 4 of minis which is the perfect way to try them out.
Butter London RSVP Set — $29. Nail polish is my first love, and Butter London has always been one of my favorite brands. This spring they released a new 10x Shine formula and it is fantastic. Polish stays shockingly shiny (and stays put) for days and days. This set includes minis of 4 classic shades.
Urban Decay Naked Palettes — $29 – $54. I love the UD Naked collection. I have every full size palette, basic palette, even Naked on The Run. My personal favorite is Naked 2, but everyone has a strong affinity to a specific palette based on their skin tones and preferences. If you aren’t sure which one to grab, go for the original. It’s a classic!
Sigma Basic Eyes Kit — $77. I know many people rave about Mac brushes, but personally, I prefer Sigma. I have slowly acquired most of their eye brushes, and this set includes all of my faves. This set includes 7 brushes that will help you achieve all of your favorite eye looks!
Benjabelle Daisy Brush Tree — $19.99. This is one of those items that you don’t know you need until you have one, and can’t believe you lived so long without it! Cleaning your brushes is one of the downfalls of loving makeup so much and it is important to dry your brushes upside down so that you can make them last. This stand fits brushes of various shapes and sizes and removes wasting time trying to find ways to keep your brushes upside down!
For the hair/skincare enthusiast
Clarisonic — $99+. When people ask me about improving the skin, the first thing I ask is if they have a Clarisonic brush. For me, it was the most essential part of my skincare routine. Not only does it get my face incredibly clean, it also exfoliates! There are always promotions for these brushes during the holidays, so snatch one up!
Aztec Clay Mask — $9. This is a little set that I have started putting together for gifts. It is no secret that I love face masks, but my absolute favorite is the Aztec clay mask. I mix a little with some Braggs apple cider vinegar and wait for the pulsating to begin. When I take it off, my skin is the softer than it has ever been. For the holidays I would purchase the duo and put a pretty bow on it!
The Face Shop Living Nature Face Masks (Set of 15) — $16. With the increased awareness of Korean Skincare routines, paper face masks have become extremely popular. I have tried multiple brands and my favorite remains The Face Shop. Each mask is soaked in natural essences, smell incredible and soak nicely into my skin. One of my complaints with face masks is how they slip around, so I use a mask cover ($3.50)to keep it in place!
Boar Bristle Brush — $12. Boar bristle brushes are an essential component of my weekly hair routine. They help diminish my natural frizz while also massaging my scalp (to reduce dryness). Everyone should have one!
Silk Pilowcases — $10 each. For years I heard about the benefits of sleeping on silk pillowcases. They reduce wrinkles and keep your blowouts from getting out of control while you sleep! This summer I finally purchased some and my hair has never looked better!
This completes my beauty and skin care gift giving guide! Stay tuned for my favorite gifts for all the fashionistas in your life.
This week I completed the third week of my November Lip Challenge (if you missed week one and two of the challenge, just click here and here)! As hard as it’s getting to choose new colors each day, it’s shocking how many favorites I haven’t worn yet!
Monday, November 16, 2015
I woke up this morning exhausted, freezing and with no lippie inspiration. At the last minute I decided to put on one of my favorite summer collaborations. I put on Mac’s Steam Heat lipstick with Hot/Cold lipglass from this summer’s Wash and Dry Collection. Each time I wear these colors I remember that I love the packaging more than the actual lip color.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Dallas had crazy weather in the middle of the night so I have been up since 3:45 this morning waiting out tornado warnings and never got back to sleep. While not my most overall polished look, I do feel like a walking Christmas tree between my green plaid cape and my red lips! Today I opted for another Mac LE: Charlotte from the Giambattista Valli collection. When this color was released this summer, I thought the shade of red was way too dark, but now that Fall is (finally) here, this may be my very favorite red right now.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
It is not uncommon for my friends to invite me lipstick shopping when they are looking for a new color. Usually, these trips end with me purchasing a new color. That’s how I ended up with this beauty. While shopping for the perfect “brick red” for her, I randomly tried on Lancôme Rouge in Love 383N Midnight Crush knowing I don’t have “any” similar shades! I thought it was a pretty color but was especially impressed with how it felt on. Today was the first time I wore it. It’s not a “wow” for me (I just really love bold colors) but it feels amazing and lasted all day!
Friday, November 20, 2015
I was busy working on loads of end of semester papers, presentations and projects yesterday so I never left my house, let alone put on any lipstick (this also explains why I look part vampire today). I am back today, and decided that I was not in the mood for my Friday wardrobe (my terrible school spirit shirt) so being the rebel I am I wore real clothes and opted for Tarte’s Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Tulip. Not my fave, but it works!
That completes the third week of my November Lip Challenge. I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I could easily continue this challenge into next month. Follow my challenge daily on my Instagram: @Jessicasgoneviral and share your own looks with the hashtag: #NovemberLipChallenge
I can’t believe I have already completed the second week of my November Lip Challenge (if you missed week one of the challenge, just click here)!I will admit it is getting harder for me to pick out my daily lip look.I am definitely taking more time picking out my outfits so I can make sure I have an unused color to coordinate with.This week I used a variety of bolds and neutrals, a few I forgot I even had!!
Monday, November 9, 2015
This summer I was browsing in Nordstrom’s beauty department and a salesperson from Smashbox offered to give me a makeover.I was killing time so decided to let her.I’m not a huge fan of their products (aside from their primers) but loved the lip stain she used on me, BeetIt.I love this color on me, and am always surprised by just how much I love it.It has fantastic staying power but tends to feather on me, even if I use a reverse liner.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
I was really in the mood for a soft look this morning so I didn’t think twice about my lip choice!I combined Mac’s Creme de la Femme lipstick with Nymphette lipglass.I discovered this look last year when I had my makeup done before the Jay Z and Beyoncé On The Run tour and it has remained part of my regular rotation ever since.
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
I love wearing bold lips with black dresses.I realized that I haven’t really worn any berry lip colors this fall so I decided to pull one out.In February, Make Up For Ever released a limited edition lip set to coincide with the release of the 50 Shades of Grey movie.The set included a lip liner, lip stain, clear gloss and berry colored gloss.For this look I used the liner, stain and clear gloss.FYI, this product has a funny “taste” to it.I don’t typically taste my lip products but it is kind of hard to miss sometimes!
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Earlier this year I became fixated on finding the right “neutral pink.”I spent way more time than I am proud to admit looking at various swatches and adding them to my wish list.Quickly I moved on to another color obsession but when Mac announced their Some Enchanted Eve holiday collection, I instantly recognized Please Me from my wish list.I obviously picked it up and realized I needed a lip liner to go with it so I also grabbed Rosy Rim.I still don’t think this is the right color for me, but it’ll do until I find it!
Friday, November 13, 2015
I don’t know how I made it ten days into this challenge without wearing my favorite lip color: Too Faced Melted Ruby.Those of you who read my very first blog know that this is where my love of makeup started.I love this color and I have a soft spot for it.It wears beautifully as long as I wear a lip primer and reverse liner!
That completes the second week of my November Lip Challenge.My container of used products is filling up and there are some I will definitely miss during the next few weeks.Follow my challenge daily on my Instagram: @Jessicasgoneviral and share your own looks with the hashtag: #NovemberLipChallenge
I have always had a soft spot for super high heels. Unfortunately, bad feet and terrible balance make wearing heels a bad idea but that doesn’t stop me from wearing unsensible shoes most weekends. In order to survive a big night out, I have developed a routine (shocking I know) to prepare both my shoes and my feet!
Prepare your shoes
I have been cursed with a wide foot, which makes most heels feel incredibly tight and uncomfortable. When I know I am going to have a long night on my feet ahead of me I prep my shoes by stretching them out a bit. To do so, I put on some thick socks and wear the shoes for about thirty minutes. Typically I do this before I’m really getting ready because I like to see if there are any red spots on my feet so I can prep my feet for the tightest spots. You can walk around in your socks and heels or just kick back and watch a show (which is what I like to do do)!
Prepare your feet
About a year ago I was reading somewhere that applying liquid bandage to your feet will prevent blisters when you wear new shoes. I kind of laughed it off but decided to try it out, and it really does work. 30 minutes before I leave, I spread the concoction on the back bone of my foot, the bones along the front sides of each foot, across the back of my toes and then at the knuckle of my toes. If I notice a red spot after stretching my shoes, I apply an extra coat to that spot. I apply a final coat right before I put my shoes on for the night.
These simple tricks have helped me go one year blister free! Follow my Instagram @Jessicasgoneviral for additional tips and tricks!
I have a confession to make: I am a lippie addict.I am not partial to one type of lip product over another, I love them all.Crayons, sticks, glosses, mattes, liquids, it doesn’t matter; when I see them, I lose all of my self control and begin imagining how they will be the perfect “finishing touch” to some ensemble.While looking into my over flowing lipstick drawer I decided that I was going to challenge myself to wear a different lip product every weekday this month.To help me keep track, I am taking a photo each day and placing the used lippie in a separate container so that I am not tempted to use it again!
Monday, November 2, 2015
I wanted to start the challenge off with a bold lip so I opted for Laura Gellar’s Love me Dew Moisturizing Lip Crayon in Cranberry Glaze.I bought this lip crayon on a whim when Ulta was offering 5x points for any Laura Gellar product.Because I have a soft spot for reds, I quickly picked this up.I love this product, it goes on easily and has amazing staying power!I have not tried any of her other products, but this is a frequent favorite of mine.
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Today I wore one of my all time favorite colors, Lipstick Queen Hot Rose Sinner.Hot Rose Sinner is an opaque, mostly matte shade, with just a hint of a sheen. This is the only Lipstick Queen product I own, and the color is perfect with my fair complexion.It is bright without being over the top and I can wear it with almost anything.
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
I am always on the lookout for a light pink shade that actually shows up on me.Today I wore Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Pink Peony.To be honest, I don’t love this one.As much as I love Tarte products, their lip products really don’t show well on me.I have yet to find a color that looks good on me.One attribute of their lipsticks that I do love is how moisturizing they are.They feel great, I just wished they looked great as they feel!
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Today was not a fantastic day for me, I felt (and looked) terrible.It turns out I was suffering a “nasty” throat infection.As a way of cheering myself up a bit I decided to put on Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Never Say Never.I love Nars and especially love their lip pencils (both matte and satin finishes).In addition to applying easily and wearing well, they always give my lips a plump and defined look.As much as I love this color, I often forget I have it.I’m loving that this challenge is encouraging me to wear colors I don’t typically reach for!
Friday, November 6, 2015
On Friday’s I have to wear my school’s spirit shirt.Personally, I am not a fan of softball inspired tees so I always try to dress the look up a bit with a bold (usually red) lip.This week I wore a classic red: Mac Ruby Woo.Apparently, my look was inspired by the Starbucks Siren on my coffee cup!
That complete’s the first week of my November Lip Challenge.My bucket is already filling up with lippies I am going to miss for the rest of the month!Follow my challenge daily on my Instagram: @Jessicasgoneviral and share your own looks with the hashtag: #NovemberLipChallenge.
Halloween has always been a mixed bag of treats for me.I love seeing kiddos all dressed up in their costumes, watching scary movies and making spooky inspired snacks but dressing up as an adult has never been something I got into.When conversations about Halloween start coming up, I enthusiastically nod my head and pretend to get excited, knowing there is no way I will participate.Not only is my creativity extremely stunted, Halloween is one of the few times my typically sky high self esteem leaves me.For some unknown reason, I changed my attitude this year and decided to embrace the holiday!
Friday was crazy busy, but I still wanted to look my Halloween best!I started the day in a subtle ensemble because the school I work at doesn’t celebrate Halloween.I wore a simple “This is my Costume” graphic tee that I picked up at Target with some black jeggings and my sugar skull Converse sneakers.I love these shoes and was excited that it was finally a seasonally appropriate time to wear them.
Friday Outfit #1
In the middle of the day, I broke away for a little while to visit my favorite 5 year old for her school’s Pumpkin Day Picnic.Unfortunately it was raining, but I was prepared.I changed into an off the shoulder sweatshirt that had a witch on a broom stick and said “Frequent Flyer” and my red Hunter rain boots.I was excited to see how happy she was to show off the Hello Kitty inspired pumpkin we had decorated together!
Friday Outfit #2/Hello Kitty Pumpkin
Finally it was time the night’s big festivity, a Ludacris concert with my bestie! I changed into a sweater I bought on tipsyelves.com with a break dancing skeleton on it, black leggings and (because it was still raining) I stuck with my Hunter rainboots! Jaime and I both love taking pictures with props so we brought fun spider light up glasses and masks with us.
Friday Outfit #3 with Jaime
On Saturday, I started getting ready with a blow out from Dry Bar.This wasn’t my very favorite blow out (I usually like my curls a little tighter for the staying power), but it still looked nice.Afterwards I came home and made some little ghost cookies to bring to a pre-party I was attending that evening before going to The W with my friends!
One of these things is not like the others
I was so excited to bring my Dia de Los Muertos concept to life with the help of my friend Nicole.She was so nervous to mess up my face (and we did have a few snafus in the middle) but it turned out great!With my makeup done it was finally time to throw on my dress and flower crown before heading out (and what a fun night it was)!
As much fun as I had, taking all that makeup off was a bit of a chore, but not nearly as terrible as I had feared. I started with Julep Bareface Cleansing Oil to break down the makeup. Next, I washed my face with my Clarisonic. I finished up with a Neutrogena makeup remover wipe. While my face was erased of all signs of makeup, my Clarisonic Deep Pore head is unsalvageable! Totally worth it!
*I have linked each product for purchase.Each product mentioned I purchased for myself based solely on word of mouth and intuition.I have linked each product to an online retailer but do not receive any compensation if you choose to purchase from them.
It has been a loooong time since I have blogged but between work, school, family and friends something had to give!Luckily I am almost back on a routine (plus I have a detailed outline for a manuscript I’m writing due on Thursday and I am procrastinating) so I am back.To kick off this homecoming I am going to fulfill a request I received this summer from my friend Amanda…my hair care routine.
When I was young I hated my hair with a passion.It was big and frizzy and I never knew what to do with it so it went in a ponytail until my mom would bribe me to cut it.Then I was really stuck with some helmet hair!I will always remember coming home from school during my sophomore year in high school and sitting down with my mom to watch an episode of Oprah.She was giving hair makeovers and one guest was sharing her horror story which involved someone using thinning shears on her hair.She warned people to run away if a hairdresser ever pulled them out around you.Her warning had the opposite effect on me; I ran towards them and never looked back.My current (and phenomenal) hair dresser always jokes that I lose more hair in a thinning than most do in a cut.
Now that I am older and have a better idea about how to handle my hair I love it!I am blessed with the fact that I only need to wash it once a week, which is great because I hate blow drying it.Like most things in my life, my hair routine* is fairly consistent.Luckily most people don’t even realize that I style my hair in specific ways on specific days (until now).
Day 1 — Sunday
Sunday’s are reserved for hair washing.Sometimes this switches to Saturday’s and once or twice a month I go to Dry Bar, but typically Sunday is the day.Because I have purple hair right now, some products and procedures are specific to maintaining my color.
Vivid cleanse.I use Pravana Choromosilk color protecting shampoo and conditioner to maintain my purple.
Violet cleanse.Violet shampoos are great to use if you are blonde and want to keep brassy tones out of your color.I have tried a few but always go back to Joico Color Endure Violet.
Hair mask.To keep my hair soft I use Kerastase Nutritive Masque.I was wanting to add a masque to my routine and chose this particular mask because it is made for thick/coarse hair.It’s fantastic and leaves my unruly hair soft and shiny.
I thought the purple in my hair hair needed a little boost this week so I decided to apply Overtone’s Go Deep Vibrant Purple Weekly treatment.I’ll be doing a full review of the product at a later date.
With freshly cleansed and colored hair, the drying process begins.I begin my pulling out the three products I use:
I begin by spraying my hair evenly with Its a 10.I brush through it with my Wet Brush.I then spray the Kenra and Tressemme and brush through again.I part my hair into three sections (right, left and bottom) with simple clips.Beginning with the bottom portion of my hair I rough dry using my T3 Featherweight Luxe 2i (I opted for this version specifically because my hair hair is so thick).Next I bring down the right side to rough dry, the left side and then use my Olivia Garden finger brush to bring my hair to a complete dry.That’s all I do on Sunday’s.I like to get a good sleep on a silk pillowcase before styling the next morning.
Day 2 — Monday
I am my most energetic on Monday mornings which works out well because when I wake up Monday, my hair needs some work!I typically wear my hair straight at the beginning of the week so before I start my eye makeup, I plug in my Instyler and spray my hair with Tresseme Heat Tamer Spray.Once my makeup is done and my tool is warmed up I part my hair into three sections, just like when I blow dry.Taking 1-1.5 inch sections, I slowly glide my hair through the Instyler.The Instlyer can be used in various ways, but I like to use it to straighten my hair and gently curl under the ends.After my hair is complete, I run a single squirt of BedHead After Party through my hair.
To prepare my hair for bed I use a Spornette’s boars’ hair brush and brush for about two minutes (roughly 65 strokes).I then throw my hair into a high ponytail on the very top of my head (think Pebbles Flinstone) with a 1990s throwback scrunchie.
Day 3 — Tuesday
Tuesday morning looks a lot like Monday.I pull my hair down, brush through it and go over kinky pieces with my Instyler.Once I do that, I am out the door!
Typically my hair is still in good shape Tuesday night, so I brush with my boars’ hair brush and just throw it back up for bed with my trusty scrunchie.
Day 4 — Wednesday
Wednesday mornings are rough!I am groggy and my straight hair is boring me.Often this leads to an undo of sorts.Today I decided to include a small fishtail braid into my look.Using my rat tail comb, I section of a large chunk of hair near my face and rub some Redken Braid Aid into the piece.(While this product isn’t essential, it really helps me keep fly aways in place).I pinned it back with my mega bobby pins and put my hair back with a clear elastic (Blax are fantastic if you have thick hair).
Usually by Wednesday night, my hair is starting to show signs of age.I applied Living Proof Night Cap Overnight Perfecter to bring the shine back and Redken’s Pillow Proof dry shampoo to add some volume and eliminate any traces of oil.After letting everything absorb I throw my hair up with my scrunchie and go to bed.
Day 5 — Thursday
I have class on Thursday nights so I tend to wake up a little bit early and refresh my look so I look nice in class (it’s a mental game I play with myself so that I don’t dread going quite as much).I love my hair curled, and have a ton of curling irons, but my favorite remains the T3 SinglePass Whirl Conical Curling Wand.Before I start my eye makeup, I spray my hair with Chi’s texture spray, plug in the wand and by the time I am ready, it is all warmed up.Because of the density of my hair, I usually warm it to about 430 degrees.I start by dividing my hair into three sections (right, left and bottom).Starting with the bottom section I curl 1-1 ½ inch sections in alternating directions, starting away from my face.Once each section is finished I apply Chi’s firm hold hairspray.I leave the curls to cool and then release them when I’m ready to leave for work.
By Thursday night, my scalp begins to show signs dryness so I apply tea tree oil to my finger tips and massage into my hair.Once complete, I put my hair up and go to sleep.
Day 6 — Friday
My hair holds a curl pretty well so on Friday’s I simply spray my hair with TIGI Spoil Me Restyler and re-curl a few pieces of hair.I add some hair spray and I am good to go.Because of some rainstorms in Dallas I planned to spray my hair with Big Sexy Weatherproof Spray but I couldn’t find it and I was in a hurry!
Friday night was pretty boring. I knew I was going to have a low key Saturday so I didn’t bother trying to preserve my hair, I simply put it up and went to bed.
Day 7 — Saturday
It was raining Saturday and I didn’t have much going on. For a quick and simple style I did a side fishtail braid and called it a day!
This is a typical week for my hair.Of course, it isn’t always exactly like this, but it’s usually pretty close.One final tip: I always sleep on satin pillowcases; not only do they make me feel like I’m sleeping at a fancy hotel, they also prevent frizzy hair (and wrinkles)!
*I have linked each product for purchase.Each product mentioned I purchased for myself based solely on word of mouth and intuition.I have linked each product to an online retailer but do not receive any compensation if you choose to purchase from them.
Jessica's Gone Viral 