Hello and happy Sunday! I’m so so so excited to share with you gals my first ever video tutorial! I’ve toyed with the idea of creating a video for this particular tutorial for a while now, as it is difficult to show through photos alone. Fun fact – I actually created a ‘how to fill in your eyebrows’ video tutorial back in October 2013 but was too self-conscious to share it! My video filming and editing skills aren’t the greatest, and I didn’t want to produce sub-par content (also, sorry about the video quality – obviously I don’t make a lot of videos, so my camera isn’t wonderful). But hey, if all goes well, maybe I’ll invest in a better filming camera and give this whole YouTube thing a go!
How To: Fill in Your Eyebrows!
July 12, 2015
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Product Smackdown: Bioderma Micellar Water vs. Sephora Cleansing Water
April 27, 2015
Micellar waters have been generating a lot of buzz recently in the beauty blogging community. Hailed as the best and fastest way to remove makeup and cleanse skin, micellar waters have been used at runway shows by makeup artists for years. The waters clear all product off the skin in a matter of seconds and don’t leave behind any oily residue or leave the skin feeling tight and dry. How are micellar waters different from typical foam, gel, or cream cleansers? Instead of using soap and alcohol like most other cleansers, micellar waters contain tiny micelles (clusters of fatty acid esters) that help dissolve impurities on the skin like makeup, dirt, and oil — similar to how dish detergent breaks down grease. I decided to take two of the best-selling micellar waters on the market and see how they stacked up. Check out my thoughts below and see which micellar water made the cut!
Bioderma Crealine H2O Micellaire Cleansing Water: This is the micellar water that started it all! It was very difficult (and expensive) for me to get my hands on a bottle of this cleanser, because it’s not yet sold in the US. I ordered mine through Amazon and probably paid double or triple of what the actual cost is in France – in the name of science! I really, really loved this micellar water. It took off every stitch of makeup on my face at the end of the day, including my very stubborn waterproof mascara and eyeliner. The formula was super gentle and fragrance-free. It actually felt like I was cleansing my face with nothing other than water, and my skin was not left tight or dry.
Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water: I assure you, this micellar water is a lot easier to track down than the Bioderma, which may be enough to tip the scales in its favor. Stocked on the shelves (and online) at every US Sephora, the large size of this micellar water rings in at $20. I also really loved the clever pump feature on the 13.5 oz size of this cleanser. This micellar water did a comparable job removing makeup as Bioderma, even with stubborn eye makeup. However, this formula is scented, and I found the fragrance to be off-putting. I would’ve preferred no fragrance, as my skin is sensitive and fragrances can irritate it.
The verdict? As difficult as it can be to snag a bottle, I preferred the Bioderma Micellar Cleansing Water. In a pinch, the Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water would do, but I was not a fan of the fragrance. For now, I will continue to order my beloved Bioderma through Amazon – all the while keeping my fingers crossed for its eventual entrée into the US!
Have you ever tried these products? Do you agree with my choice? Let me know in the comments section below!
XO, J
What’s in my Cart?: Sephora
March 26, 2015
I’ve been on somewhat of a makeup binge lately, with my “to buy” list longer than ever. Most of the time I can reign myself in, but when I take the plunge, here are the five products that I’ve been lusting after at Sephora.
I’m already head-over-heels for Hourglass Ambient Light Powder in Dim Light, but I’ve been dying to try it in Diffused Light. Its featherlight formula doesn’t settle into my pores and I’m excited to see if Diffused Light gives me that “just slept 8 hours hours” glow.
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner is a cult favorite, but surprisingly I’ve never tried it. With its stay-all-day formula, I’m looking forward to not smudging my usual slick of liner.
With its no-smudge formula and tiny wand, the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara is a kind of genius! Most of the time I don’t wear mascara on my bottom lashes because of smearing and flaking, so I’m curious to see how this will hold up.
Since I’ve heard amazing reviews of the Bobbi Brown Corrector, I’m excited to try it. The shade Bisque is a creamy peach, which is perfect for canceling out blue and purple undertones in the under eye area, and the thick, emollient formula stays put all day.
Lastly, I’m in the market for a new brow product and looking forward to trying the Tarte EmphasEYES High Definition Brow Pencil. The ultra thin tip allows for feathery strokes to create bold-yet-natural-looking brows.
What’s on your Sephora to-buy list?
XO, J
New In: 3 From Nordstrom
March 13, 2015
When it comes to cosmetics, I normally make a beeline for Sephora. However, there’s a handful of brands that Sephora doesn’t carry. I recently did a mini Nordstrom haul and picked up a few products I’d heard rave reviews about and been wanting to try.
First up is theBalm’s Mary-Lou Manizer, a glowy, champagne highlighting powder. This compact is HUGE and is packed with super-pigmented product. I don’t think I’ll ever need to repurchase this because I don’t think I’ll ever run out! You only need to pop a tiny bit of product on a fan brush for major cheekbones.
At first glance, the Clarins Instant Concealer formula is thinner than most. But don’t be fooled – it is seriously pigmented and a tiny bit goes a long way. So far, my favorite way to wear it is to conceal my under eyes and around my nose, and then blend a bit onto the high planes of my face. With this method, I only need to set my look with powder for a flawless finish.
Tipping the scales at one of the spendiest products in my collection is Kevyn Aucoin ‘The Sculpting Powder.’ This powder looks dark in the compact, but the cool gray tone actually creates the most natural looking shadows in the hollows of your face. Using a light hand, you can build the color slowly to create the perfect contour. It is an absolutely phenomenal product.
XO, J
How To: The Brush Wash
December 15, 2014
To be perfectly honest, I’m not exactly the poster girl for keeping my makeup brushes squeaky clean (permission to judge!). I know better. However, when I do get around to washing them, I like to use a sulfate-free cleanser. I use a sulfate-free shampoo for my hair, so the same logic applies for my natural-fiber makeup brushes. I like Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle shampoo because of the zingy, peppermint scent and gentle formula. Dr. Bronner’s also makes a great castile cleanser that would work well.
Squeeze a generous amount of sulfate-free cleanser into your palm and wet the brush. Lather the brush in your palm, agitating the cleanser. Rinse under warm water. If you go as long between brush washings as I do, you may have to repeat this step two or more times. Repeat as many times as needed until the water runs clear when you rinse the brush. Lay flat on a towel to dry. Do not stand upright to dry because the water will pool in the ferrules and dissolve the glue.
That’s it! Sparkling clean brushes and clear complexion to boot! ;)
XO, J
P.S. My favorite makeup brushes are by Real Techniques. They’re super durable, really high quality, and so affordable.
#CommuterBeauty
November 7, 2014
I recently read an article where Drew Barrymore talks about a term she coined “#commuterbeauty,” wherein busy gals on the go just don’t have time to get their makeup on before leaving the house. Since moving to San Francisco, my daily commute is usually anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour (the train I take is really, really slow), and I’ve really put that time to use and still have time to spare. I’ve pared down to my beauty essentials (but still haul enough products for a variety of looks) and carry them with me daily. I’ve built it into my morning routine, giving myself just enough time to shower, get dressed, and style my hair before running out to catch the train. I’m not the only gal who’d rather hit the snooze button, either! I see a few other #commuterbeauties applying their makeup on the train every morning as well.
Here’s what I carry in my on-the-go makeup bag:
- Hand sanitizer (obviously)
- Maybelline Dream LumiTouch highlighting concealer in Radiant
- Maybelline lipstick in Fuchsia Flash
- Maybelline Great Lash mascara in Royal Blue
- Maybelline Full ‘N Soft mascara in Very Black
- bareMinerals BareSkin serum foundation in Bare Linen
- bareMinerals Perfecting Face Brush
- Tarte Cheek Stain in Blissful
- Tarte Mineral Bronzer in Park Ave Princess
- NARS The Multiple in Orgasm (mini)
- Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in No Pressure! (mini)
- Benefit Brow Zings in Light
- Benefit Gimme Brow in Light/Medium
- Benefit Watt’s Up highlighter (mini)
- Benefit They’re Real! mascara (mini)
- Sephora Brow Filler brush #100
- L’Oreal Miss Manga mascara in Black
- L’Oreal Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner in Brown
- Real Techniques Expert Face Brush
- Doll No. 10 H2Glo Highlighter in Champagne
- Urban Decay Perversion mascara (mini)
- M.A.C. lipstick in Ruby Woo
- Pacifica eyeliner in Gunmetal (mini)
Are you a #commuterbeauty like me? What’s in your makeup bag?
XO, J
P.S. In writing this post, I realized I was carrying around 5 different mascaras. Whoops! Maybe not as pared down as I thought…
