ELF Essential Brush Review

Essential Eye Shadow Brush

I was so excited to get this brush because I had seen so many vloggers talk about it on YouTube and I wanted a good inexpensive eye shadow brush and for $1.00 I couldn't lose right???


WRONG!!

I'm not sure what other people see in this brush but it was horrible! When I first opened it and felt it, it felt great! It was dense and had a nice handle and all that jazz....but when I used it the hairs started falling out all over my face. Every time I swiped a shadow a hair fell out in it or it fell on my face once I applied the shadow. So right after I applied my eye shadows, I'm literally wiping my face because I feel all of these tiny little hairs all over it. I also cleaned it to see if that would make the lose hairs all fall out and it didn't work, there was still fall out from the brush at each use.

 At only $1 I'm not complaining too much but I felt it was only fair that if I rave about a product that I also stay just as honest on items that didn't work so well for me. In staying honest, I am going to buy a couple more ONLY because I want to make sure that I didn't just get a "bad brush". If I had never tried any of the other ELF brushes from either the essential line or studio line (which the studio line brushes are fabulous) then I probably would never try another brush but since I know the capability of ELF products, I'm going to give it another shot...or two. If nothing else my yard sale coming up will have some extra items for sale ;) ;)

Have you tried this brush?? Do you love it or hate it? I'd love to hear from you!

Be blessed beauties!

SOAP AND GLORY

I LOVE Soap and Glory products!!!!! I can't even begin to express how much I love the Glow lotion! The scent that I can't even explain is amazing. It's such a soft, girly, feminine but mature smell. It doesn't smell like your teenager that's for sure BUT I wouldn't expect it to be on your Grandma either. It's perfect for that any age woman that loves a hint of glow and a scent of just about "perfect". It's a peachy pink very soft shimmer that I wear daily. I can't go anywhere without it. I bought mine at Target but I'm not positive if they still carry it. You can get it at Sephora and always check Amazon for great deals too!

Here is what Sephora says about it:


 Glow Lotion
What it is:
A drop-dead gorgeous highlighting glimmer lotion for the body.

What it does:
Use Glow Lotion all over as a moisturizer, on your neck and shoulders as a fragrant shimmer, or as a stand-in for stockings when you find yourself short of a little shine.

What else you need to know:
This lotion is scented with fresh bergamot, strawberries, and mandarin, with floral and fruity mid-notes, and musk, amber and warm vanilla notes on the bottom

This lotion lasts and lasts. I can't say enough about it. This along with other products from Soap and Glory are must-haves for sure!!

For 5.1 oz it's $20 and for the quality of product you get, it's so worth it!

Check out the Soap and Glory line and if you have any favorites let me know what they are, I may just have to try them if I don't own them already! :)


Be blessed beauties!

ELF Eye Primer

I'm so excited to share about this primer that I got in the mail last week! I ordered quite a bit from ELF cosmetics and of all the things I bought, the primer stands out the most. When I first applied it I thought it was really wet and a little "thin" (which is not what you get with say Urban Decay's Primer Potion) but I decided I would try it anyway. My first outing where I wore the primer was to my company picnic. I was a little nervous since it was outside and I couldn't fix it in the case that it didn't work but boy was I surprised! This primer exceeded my expectations for sure! It goes on so light and creamy and yes a little moist but once it dries and you apply your shadows, it doesn't move or crease or anything!

I couldn't believe how well it worked! And at the end of the night (hours later) when I washed my face, it came off very easily. So it lasted when it needed to and came off when I wanted it to. Here is the best part about this primer.......ready???..... IT'S ONLY $1!!!!!!!!!! Yes that's right, $1 and now you can buy ELF products at Target so you don't even need to worry about shipping! For $1.07 (have to add tax) you get an amazing product.

I highly recommend this primer along with many other things by ELF. I will be reviewing other things that I bought throughout the week so stay tuned for more!

Here is a picture of what I bought and will be reviewing later on:

Be blessed always Beauties!!

quick beauty tricks #6

Calm an angry pimple: Freeze a cotton swab soaked with Visine, then place on the blemish until the solution defrosts. The coldness reduces swelling while the formula zaps the redness

quick beauty tricks #5

Sculpt legs in seconds

Tone your legs without the workout: Rub a thin line of baby oil into the front of calves and thighs. It makes legs appear more toned and sexy in seconds

STILL WORKOUT! js

quick beauty tricks #3 and #4

Look well-rested

Fake a good night’s sleep: Line the lower inner rim of eyes with a peachy-nude pencil to tone down redness. Skip white liner—it looks harsh and obvious. (NYX's has a great pencil for this, I believe it's called Yogurt but you may need a different shade for your skin tone)

Fix cakey concealer: Lightly dab just a dot of eye cream on your skin, patting with your ring finger to instantly smooth lines and cracks without removing color

quick beauty tricks #2

Make lips fuller

Plump your pout: Dotting a light, shimmery gloss in the center of your lips creates a more visible 3-D effect.

Also, putting a light shimmer powder or white eyeshadow in your cupid's bow (the natural dip in your top lip in the middle) will also make your lips look fuller. :) Just remember to blend it well so it doesn't look like you hit your lip with eyeshadow or glittery powder. 

quick beauty tricks #1

Slim your face

Drop weight instantly: Choose a brownish matte blush that's not too dark (bronzers stand out too much), and sweep it lightly below your cheekbones, at your temples and along the jawline. Blend careful for a natural look

ELF has a very inexpensive combo like this one above that works great for all kinds of skintypes! NARS also has a combo that works really well if you like the more high end brands. It blends really nicely!

Leftovers=great facial remedies

Here is a list of some quick home remedies I've found (and tried) and they are things that I'm sure all of us use daily or weekly, so here we go!

Hydrate dry skin

Secret Ingredient: Honey

Squeeze a dime-size dollop of honey into palms, blend it with your regular face wash, and use the mixture to give your face a deep facial. For a body wash, use a walnut-size dollop of honey

Soothe puffy eyes

Secret ingredient: Chamomile tea

Steep two chamomile tea bags in warm water, then place in refrigerator to cool. Squeeze excess fluid from tea bags and place over tired eyes for 5 minutes

Smooth and exfoliate

Secret ingredient: Coffee beans

Dip a wet washcloth into leftover coffee grounds and massage into damp skin from neck down to slough off dead skin. Concentrate on cellulite prone areas like thighs to tighten skin.

Revive tired skin

Secret ingredient: Cucumber

Puree 1 small cucumber in blender, then add 3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour. Stir until mixture is thick and pasty. Apply to clean, dry face and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.




 I hope you enjoy these quick, very inexpensive ideas!!

NYX-travaganza! You ready???

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MAKEUP DIARY GIVEAWAY!!!

Check out this awesome giveaway! Make sure you enter to try and win these great prizes! Click here to go to the Makeup Diary blog to enter.

August Birchbox arrived.........

So here it is the beginning of the month of August and I long for my Birchbox shipment. However, I was a little disappointed in this month's products.........until I tried them :) I will give a list and photo of the products and then give my opinion on them. Here we go!

June Jacobs Papaya Purifying Enzyme Masque

Powered by natural fruit extracts, this creamy mask dissolves dull cells, then boosts skin with essential oils and antioxidant-rich tea extracts.

Ouidad Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel

A styling aid with brains! When this non-sticky gel senses heat, it stops hair from expanding. Welcome to frizz-free curls.

Shaveworks The Cool Fix

At last, a solution to bumps, ingrown, and other shaving and waxing side effects. Bonus: it soothes as it works.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

This award-winning primer is better than ever, with brand-new packaging. It gives skin a matte, velvet-soft finish and keeps makeup in place all day.

Twistband Hair Tie

This soft elastic gives the hair tie a sophisticated makeover--it looks as good on your wrist as it does in your hair.

OK so here is my quick opinion on these items:

Masque-It's amazing! I've never had my face feel so smooth and the smell is enough to make you want to eat it right out of the jar! At $62 for 3.7 fl oz, I think I will slowly enjoy the sample and then count my losses (or financial gain) in not purchasing this masque. Although I would love to have it, it's too pricey for me but it works so well.

Heat Gel- Eh, it's OK. I'm not overly thrilled about it. I've found other products that are cheaper and work just as well. This isn't sticky which is great but still nothing to oh and ah over. 6 oz is $16

Shaveworks gel- LOVE this stuff! I shaved and tried it and it works soooo well! I love the crisp clean scent that it leaves on your legs. It's so soft when it dries and it does keep the redness and bumps away. 2 fl oz is $11 & 5.3 fl oz is $25

Smashbox primer- OK everybody goes crazy over this primer but if I'm being honest, I like my ELF Mineral Primer just as much. Smashbox primer is a little thicker when applying foundation over it and my face feels smoother to touch but appearance is no different. The staying power is no different either. I love Smashbox don't get me wrong and I use it on my clients or when I can afford it but I'm perfectly happy with my ELF primer. :) 1 fl oz is $36 for Smashbox primer.

Twistband- When I first opened the box, I thought the packaging people had forgotten to tie something up because it was just this weird band laying in the box...but I then read the little card that comes with the shipment and saw that it was for your hair. This band is adorable and classy for sure, once it's in your hair. It is only an elastic band tied cute though. You could easily make your own in so many different prints and styles by just going to Micheal's or any craft store and buying elastic ribbon and tying it at the ends. The price is reasonable though if you don't want to DIY. Set of 3 is $5.

OK so there is my take on this month's shipment of goodies. As always I love Birchbox and I think it's great what they are doing. I'm trying things that I would otherwise have no way of trying due to price or availability or lack of knowing it's out there. So props to Birchbox for shipping such amazing things! If anyone else gets these shipments monthly, please share what you got because everyone is different!

Be blessed always my faithful followers,

Jodi

Finally got some up close pictures!

I finally got some up close pictures of the wedding that I did in June. The girls looked amazing! Here ya go!

Here are all of the girls that I did:

All of them were such a joy to work with....can't wait til my next event!!!