Jae Raids the Drugstore! Best (and Worst!) Beauty Buys

So my vanity drawer is overflowing with stuff I've bought in the last little while, so that definitely means it's time for beauty reviews: The good, the bad, and the "why did I ever spend money on that?"

Let's just go for it because we're headed out for the weekend and I have mucho stuff to do!

BellaPierre Waterproof Gel Eyeliner Pencil ($14.99)

This was a sleeper hit for me. Usually an eyeliner is an eyeliner, but this gel-based one is super soft so I've been using it for tightlining (where you line the waterline of your eye). And seriously, once it's on it doesn't budge until you use soap, so it's a major winner. I'll be rebuying this when it's done -- I feel like it'll be genius in the summer when we're in and out of water all day. 

Glycolix Elite Ultra Gentle Cleanser ($15)

I've used Glycolix stuff in the past and have always been happy, so I started looking for a daily treatment option. This cleanser is supafantastic because it has all the glycolic acid goodness, but it's not irritating like the pads are (seriously I love them but they burn like the dickens). I've used this every night for like, two months and am super happy. Really great if you have the dreaded combo skin like me where you break out if anything is too moisturizing but turn in to the motherfudging (sorry I've been mainlining Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix) Sahara when it's not hydrating enough.


Si by Giorgio Armani ($28) 

YOU GUYS. I know for a fact that someone here recommended this fragrance back around Christmas, but I can't remember who. But if it was you, you're a beautiful angel from heaven because this stuff is so good. If you're into vanilla scents (which I very much am) this is such an excellent balance between vanilla and a little bit of musk so it's not too sweet. My husband got me the rollerball (I throw them in my purse and take them everywhere) and I've worn it on the daily ever since.

Cils D'enfer Maxi Lash So Volume! ($30)

In my neverending quest to try every mascara ever made (and seriously don't try and tell me about lash extensions. One of my friends just had a reaction to hers and it was so bad it literally caused her eyelashes to pop out of her skin. It's not my bag.) I tried this super FRAWNCH mascara and it was only OK. It's more lengthening than it is volumizing and my eyelashes are pretty long already so it leaned on the spidery side. For $30 I'd expect more. Something has yet to topple Dior Iconic Overcurl and L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes as my top faves.

Revlon Parfumerie in Spun Sugar ($3.29)

I picked this up on a grocery store run while my husband drove me around looking for cheese bagels. My usual store was out and that is not acceptable. I really like cheese bagels, you guys. Anyway, this stuff swears that it smells like sugar but I don't really smell anything. I love the color though, and it was almost opaque after one coat. I've also had it on my toes for two weeks and I think it'll probably last through the Armageddon, so that's nice.

Benefit High Brow Glow ($22)

Aaaaand massive disappointment of the month goes to: This stupid $22 shimmer stick I bought the last time I was at Sephora! I was looking for something to help define my brows because they are crazy and unwieldy. And somehow I got talked into this (seriously are the women who work at Sephora hypnotists? Because this is not what I wanted AT ALL) and when I got home realized that I'd spent way too much on something that wasn't as good as the next product for like, a third of the price.

It's OK. Just... OK. I don't see why it would ever need to be $22 though.

e.l.f. Shimmer Palette ($8)

Look guys, I'm not even trying to be dramatic, I just want to be buried with this palette when I die. Seriously, I use it every day without fail. I love that the shimmer comes in different shades, so you can add some without looking like you're ready for Elsa cosplay. I use the pink on the Cupid's bow above my lips and on my cheekbones, and then use the champagne one for my brow bones and inner eyes NO THANKS TO YOU, $22 BENEFIT PENCIL. A little goes a looooooong way. Like, for my cheeks I literally just tap the shimmer lightly and then brush my fingers across my cheekbones and all of a sudden, it's like you're a dewy ballerina-type. Such a fan.

Palladio Herbal Gel Crayon in In the Buff ($6)

So THIS is what I wanted when I went into Sephora looking for brow help. I actually wanted a matte color that was a shade lighter than my own skin that I could use on the tops of my brows to define them. I didn't want shimmer, jerks. And I love that this fat little pencil does exactly what I ask. I'll be buying it again. I clean up my brows, fill 'em in, and then use a swipe of this on top (and blend) to make them look even more defined. Thanks, you adorable little $6 crayon, you.

Anastasia Clear Brow Gel ($22)

If you know what "on fleek" means and you want your brows to go to there, this is the gold standard, folks. And yes, I was on a mission to tame my brows this month. Deal.

Anyway, I use  this after I've filled in my brows with my trusty pencil. I know that might make some brow people weep, but I use it after on purpose because I feel like it helps to smooth out any harshness and kind of airbrush my pencil work. Some people use  brow powder but my crazy brows need boundaries.

This is light, totally unnoticeable (I've had brow gel flake on me before and it's not pretty) and it stays put. That's really all you can ask. It's spendy, but it makes a big enough difference that I can justify the cost.

Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Lip Plumper ($12)

No bueno, you guys, This said it was a "custom color" that conforms to your lips' natural coloring, so I was like, oh great, so it's like my beloved Dior Lip Glow (which I use nonstop), but with plumping. Awesome.

No. No that was not true. In Victoria's Secret land, apparently your "custom color" is like, a garish hot pink that causes you to catch your reflection in your car's rearview mirror and say "WHAT THE HECK" out loud and then frantically wipe it on your sleeves, which may or may not be a real thing that happened. Maybe others have had better luck with their custom color, but my custom color was a jerk and the plumping effect was uber-minimal (I still love this the best for plumping lip colors in Peachy Flush).

Just, yeah. Yikes.


Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Anti-Aging ($24)

I've used this stuff for two years and swear by it, but this time I bought the "anti-aging" kind because, you know, I'm 30. And it's baaaasically worthless. Like, it's fine as a primer, but as far as I can tell the only difference is that this one has a little shimmer in it? Is that what's supposed to stop you from aging? Does Urban Decay think we're all idiots?

Just buy the regular stuff.

Batiste Dry Shampoo - Cherry ($8) 

I try out dry shampoo like I do mascara and I'm really picky about scent. I swear, some smell like the inside of an apartment building lobby where I grew up. Like, kind of like someone smoked in there once and the smell never went away, but by golly, they tried.

I don't think this smells particularly like cherries, but it does smell fresh and it does its job. On a related note, I tried a "tinted" dry shampoo and it made my hair banana yellow. White is fine. Even if you're brunette, you can use white dry shampoo. Just spray it, work it in like real shampoo, and then throw your hair into a loose bun while you hop in the shower or do your makeup and it'll absorb. You can also put it in before bed and sleep in a loose bun and it'll do the same.

And that, my friends, was a tangent.

Pacifica Hand Cream in Tuscan Blood Orange ($8) 

I love Pacifica scents -- they're impactful without being cloying and that might have been the most annoying sentence I've ever typed. But seriously. Their vanilla is another one of my favorite perfumes and I loooove their Indian Coconut stuff. I grabbed this Blood Orange and it's no exception. Seriously Pacifica, you win at scents forever and you're so reasonably priced.

This hand cream goes in my purse and is super light but doesn't skimp on the moisturizing part. Plus, the little tube is adorable and I'm forever handing it out to my friends to use.

Garnier Fructis Marvelous Oil ($4.50) 

I feel like calling this stuff Marvelous Oil was setting it up for failure. Because, I mean, it's pretty good, but it would have to cause my head to sprout mermaid-like gold-plated tresses overnight for it to be Marvelous.

It's a hair oil made with brazilnuts and I guess that's good? I don't know, I can't tell a difference between this and my usual agran oil -- both just get combed through my ends when they're looking rough and that's about it.

Maybelline Color Elixir in Caramel Infused $8.99

So I took Urban Decay's new High Color Lip Gloss (in Failbait) for a test drive. I was immediately obsessed with the color, but I haaaaated the formula. After about 10 minutes of wear, it became unbearably sticky. So, after much drugstore-searching, I found that Maybelline's Color Elixir in Caramel Infused was an almost-perfect match, and the formula is creamy (ugh I hate that word) instead of sticky. This has been my new go-to color for the last two weeks. The only caveat is that the applicator sucks but I can deal.

So, while I'm super disappointed in Urban Decay, it's kind of like meeting your cute husband through his douchey best friend. Like, he's a jerk and you hate the way he laughs but you're still grateful.


Aaaaand that concludes my world record of longest post ever, during which I looked at the clock and realized the bus was rumbling up the street and had to physically push my kids out the door. So, you know, mom stuff.

It's been a slice!

Beauty Review: Urban Decay Naked and Naked3

 YAY two posts in a row! I win at life!

Since I've had a couple of months with both my Naked palettes, I thought I'd do a quick write-up of whether or not they're worth your money.

My husband bought me both palettes: I got Naked for Christmas and then Naked3 for Mother's Day. Now, those of you who can count may have noticed that Naked 2 is missing here. I'm going to be totally honest with you: After comparing them all, I didn't really see a need for Naked 2. It's super gold and 1) I have very pink skin and 2) Naked has the most perfect golds ever. So, being the rebel that I am, I skipped 2 and went straight for 3.

In short, I'm incredibly happy with both. To say that I've stopped using all other eyeshadow would be the understatement of the century. I use these every day instead. EVERY. DAY. They go on super smooth, blend well, and the colors are saturated and pretty. Of course, they aren't perfect. While I love how super appropriate the colors are (seriously, you could wear these to a wedding and a funeral in the same day), I DO wish there were some plum-my tones, just because that's my favorite.

The colors for Naked, left to right are: Virgin, Sin, Naked (duh), Sidecar, Buck (my fave), Half Baked, Smog, Darkhorse, Toasted (ugh so pretty), Hustle, Creep (blackest black) and Gunmetal

The colors I use most are Virgin (perfect highlighter), Buck, Toasted and Hustle. I actually don't use the grays a lot. They're super dark and I tend to use Blackheart from Naked3 for a smokey eye.

(here)

Naked3 has Strange, Dust, Burnout, Limit, Buzz, Trick, Nooner (love), Liar, Factory, Mugshot, Darkside and Blackheart (just shut up it's too good). 

The colors I use most are Strange, Nooner, Factory and Blackheart, which is a red sparkle-infused gray that makes the most incredible smokey eye I've ever seen. Like, you don't even know. 

(here)

Both palettes have their pros and cons. I love the variety that Naked offers, but Naked3 would be easier for beginners because every color goes with literally every other color in the palette and there's no way to screw them up.

If you were to pick one (because they're friggin expensive) I would say that Naked is the must-have out of the two. I'm glad I got Naked3, but a lot of the colors are very similar (because the whole palette has a rose gold theme) and I don't see a ton of difference  between like, Burnout and Limit when they're actually on my face. When I use up Naked3, I'd probably just go buy singles of Nooner, Factory and Blackheart and call it a day. I would, however, just re-buy the entire Naked palette because every color is very distinct. 

One more thing: I use the Urban Decay eyeshadow primer every time I use these palettes. The colors are more vibrant over top and it seriously lasts forever. I've almost completely stopped wearing eyeliner because these colors are enough, especially when combined with the lasting power of the primer. There are a few different choices for the primer (it comes in different colors and formulas) but my fave is definitely Eden, which is super matte and pretty brightening too. An eensy, weensy amount goes a long way and it works amazingly for other brands of eyeshadow. You can find it here.

Anyway, since the Naked palettes are a bit of an investment at $50 a pop, I think it's worth it to see them in person first. Are they awesome? Yes. Should you feel pressured to buy all three? Probably not. 

Does anyone else have these babies? I want to hear from someone who has Naked2 on how they feel about it's goldiness. 

Yes. Goldiness.

Jae Raids the Drugstore: Best (and Worst) Beauty Buys

It's that time again: Time when my latest beauty buy purchases have taken over my vanity and are begging for me to review them. They're a little clingy. I and I have some doozies for you, including some seriously life-changing stuff here.

It takes very little to change my life, apparently. As always, click pics for links to buy. YAY!

First up:



 L'oreal Infalliable Le Rouge in Unending Kiss

OMG makeup companies are torturing me with their long names. BUT! Know how I'm always looking for that magical lipstick that will convert me from being a hardcore gloss-wearer? This might just be the one. I love the creamy texture (ew) and the color is just pink enough without be bubble-gummy. I'm very happy with this random grocery store my-family-is-waiting-in-the-car purchase.






Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Body Butter

This stuff basically smells like sweet baby angels on vacation and I'm a total convert. I tend to want lotion at my desk because my hands feel dry when I first sit down to work in the morning and this has been my go-to. Word on the street that the other Pacifica scents are just as good. I will make it my personal mission to investigate them all because I'm selfless and stuff. 

                Rimmel Moisture Renew in As You Want Victoria (!?)

OK, so Rimmel sent me some of their new Moisture Renew lipstick to try out. And I will say the color was gorgeous and the color saturation was out of this world on my lips. HOWEVER, the formula was really, really slippery. Like, one false move and you look like a kid getting ahold of lipstick for the first time. And, since I'm generally suspicious of lipstick anyway, it made this a miss for me. If the same color came in a matte formula, I'd be all over it.





Diorshow Iconic Overcurl

I am a diehard Diorshow fan, so when a reader suggested I try this (and after my nightmare of a "try every Maybelline mascara to disastrous results bender" I was on board. And I'm super glad I did. While I don't think this makes your lashes as fat as the original stuff, I also don't have to use an eyelash curler when I use this. That is a game-changer, people! The curved brush lifts the lashes up and away and I have 30 precious seconds given back to me every morning.






                     ELF Makeup Mist and Set

I did a big ELF order because I was out of my fave undereye concealer (The HD Lifting) and ended up buying like $30 of stuff because that's how they getcha. Anyway, I took a chance on this stuff. I can't really tell if it sets my makeup any better than like, my face skin, but I do like how it refreshes half day-old makeup in the late afternoon. It's not a must-have, but it'll stick around and I'll use it for reviving old makeup.




 Glycolix Treatment Pads

Speaking of life-changers, I love this stuff. If you have sensitive skin, just walk away. Right now. This is not for you. But if you have skin that can take it like a man, these might be your new fave. They're basically straight glycolic acid. Actually, 20 percent. And do they burn like a motherfletcher? YES. But have my pores gotten smaller and has my aggressive forehead wrinkle become more passive? YES. Plus, it's easy. A swipe before you go to bed. One jar lasts two months. Which reminds me -- I need to reorder.

 City Color Be Matte Blush in Fresh Melon

I got this blush in my ipsy bag and I was like "Holy bright Batman!" Like, I actually said that. To myself. But guess what? I LOVE THIS BLUSH. A little goes a long way.This one compact will last forever and it's just right for a natural flush. And I love the matte when I'm tired of everything being so glittery all the time.





Clairol Shimmer Lights Shampoo & Conditioner (I use both)

You guys. YOU. GUYS. Of all of the products I've wasted my money on this month, this stuff has been the best by far. So, you know when you're not actually blonde but you dye your hair lighter and it looks good for the first couple of weeks and then goes brassy? This stuff cuts all of the yellow out of your hair. So for me, who HATES brass and loves a beige tone to her fake blonde hair, it's everything. The caveat? It can dry out your hair a bit. I only use it twice a week and it's plenty to keep brass away. Also, if you have highlights, it makes them really stand out. Love love love so much. I had to buy it at Sally's and it was around $8 -- way better than paying to have my color redone again.





ELF Angled Foundation Brush

Here's another thing I ordered with my last ELF haul. I was super pleasantly surprised to find out how much I love their Studio line of brushes -- the powder brush has replaced my old kabuki for foundation. I've been using this little guy for bronzer, since the angle is perfect for faking cheekbones and what not. And it's three bucks so win forever.


Nair Spa Clay Wax Strips

So I've waxed my own eyebrows since I was like, 16 (and I used to wax my brothers' eyebrows too which was fun because it helped me work through a lot of brother-related aggression). I love prepped wax strips because I can literally just cut them into the shape I want and don't have to mess with application. And I've used Nair strips before... but they were blue? And were meant to be less hurty? And they weren't. My kids would rush into the bathroom to see me wax my brows because they thought it was funny that I would shriek and say bad words. But these clay-based ones actually hurt less! And my kids were disappointed, but they need to learn to deal.


I'm not gonna lie, sometimes it grosses me out that I buy so many beauty products. It's a sickness. I lip gloss here, a mascara there and my vanity is buried in random eyeshadow palettes that I will never use. Ah well. There are worse thing to be addicted to right?

Mostly crack.

Freaky Friday: Hall of Shame

Since this week was about makeup, I decided to clean out the depths of my vanity drawer to see what unlucky products have been languishing there since they came out of the packaging. And while a lot of what was back there was old bobby pins, I did find some of the worst products that I tried, hated and tossed back there. Silver lining to my wasted money? I can now tell you what not to buy.

BOO:

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Prime Time Brightening Foundation Primer

Here's a classic case of a pricey product being nowhere near as good as a drugstore one. I got talked into a $23 (!!) bottle of this slop when picking up my regular pot of Bare Minerals foundation. This stuff felt like I was putting pure oil onto my face and it didn't prime worth a crap. I still had my regulation dinner-plate pores and it made me break out.

YAY:

Revlon PhotoReady Color Correcting Skin Primer Cream 002

This is still the only primer I'll use -- it's creamy and lovely and even lets me go sans makeup:

BOO:

Maybelline Volum' Express The Mega Plush Mascara

Yup, it's going into the garbage, folks. I obviously have a well-documented hatred for this mascara. I won't even let my daughter have it for playtime because SHE NEEDS TO LEARN.

YAY:

Dior Beauty Iconic Overcurl Mascara

I feel like this stuff is made from unicorn tears and I'm OK with that. Also, let's compare the packaging for the two mascaras. I'm sorry, did Lisa Frank make that plush stuff? I am a grown woman.

BOO:

Garnier BB Cream Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector

This stuff was reallllly oily for a BB cream. And, since it only comes in like, three shades, you have to just settle for one that's "close enough." I think I used it once.

YAY:

Maybelline Dream Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balm Skin Perfector SPF 30

Much better. Creamy consistency and it comes in more shades (I think five?) so even my freaky pale skin gets a solid treatment. I use this a lot in the summer when I want to even out skin tone without caking on the makeup.

BOO:

e.l.f. Lip Stain Nude Nectar

You guys know I love ELF and I actually didn't mind this stain when I first got it. But then it was dried out and when it wore off my lips, it would leave a ring behind and it's now just relegated to the bottom of my makeup bag.

YAY: 

Pearly Lip & Cheek Stain

LOVE this stuff from The Body Shop -- I have it in two shades. It's much pricier at around $15, BUT I actually use it. It has a nice consistency, but more importantly, it doesn't dry out my lips. I even wore it in family pictures because I was positive it would stay nice for a couple of hours. Also... you can use it on cheeks and that makes me happy.

BOO:

Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask

This smelled nice but did absolutely nothing for my hair. And at $26, it better make my hair shine like actual baby angels to be worth the money.

YAY:

Aveeno Active Naturals Nourish + Strengthen Shampoo

Just use a good shampoo instead. I have my whole family using Aveeno now. Super soft hair, smells good, no need for expensive hair masks. If I want extra conditioning, I just comb a dime-sized amount through my damp hair and leave it. Also, it makes my daughter's crazy thick hair super soft, too. That makes me feel good about my mothering skills.

BOO: 

L'Oreal Paris Double Extend Beauty Tubes Lash Extension Effect Mascara

Super great, if you want spider lashes that you later have to scrub to remove. Uh, no thanks. Also, head's up, mascara companies: The only way to look like you're wearing lash extensions is to actually wear lash extensions. These do not put "tubes" around your eyelashes. It's a primer. Just say primer.

YAY:
Seriously, just buy a quality mascara. I still stand by Dior as my number one and this:

L'Oréal Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara

As my favorite drugstore brand. And it's been that way for like, two years.

BOO:

NYX 'Extra Creamy' Round Lipstick

I actually liked the way this FELT but it lasted maaaaaybe two seconds on my lips. Awesome. Plus I'm just a gloss girl, so I don't know why I continually spend money on lipstick. I always think it'll be the one to convert me. Nope.

YAY:

Maybelline Baby Lips Electro Lip Balm

I'll just stick with my Baby Lips. I just bought this color and it's awesome. That brings my tally up to five, if you're keeping track. I feel like if you buy five of the same product, it's probably a winner.


Alright, this just turned into a big beauty review post. Any hits or misses that you've had in the last little while?

UGH don't you hate buying a product that totally sucks?

Everyday Makeup Tutorials

You guys know I suck at tutorials, but I flipped on my camera when I did my makeup yesterday, since some of you were asking about daily makeup routines. Here are some things to keep in mind:

1) This is what I would do on a weekday when I just have to do running around, sometimes a video call with a client, etc. It's not full-on glammy makeup, which is a whole 'nother story. 
2) I don't wear lip products on a daily basis. I feel like they're high maintenance. I just wear my Baby Lips. And you should know how to put on lip balm by now geez.
3) Aside from smoothing them out (because I sleep on my face and mess 'em up) I don't do much with my eyebrows. I keep them neat and skip any products. Sometimes I might use a gel-based filler.
4) Please enjoy the view of my toilet paper holder. Also, products that I used are below.
5) I DID get my new Diorshow Iconic Overcurl like, five minutes after this video was made. Isn't that just always the way? It's AMAZING by the way. So good. I'll do a full review soon. I also started using a new nighttime treatment that I need to review too. Sorry, getting off topic here.

Anyway, I broke it into three videos for each area of the face. See if you can find a special guest.

Products used:
Clean and Clear Morning Glow
ELF HD Lifting Concealer (Brightening)
 NYC Smooth Skin (Ivory)
Too Faced Matte Bronzer (Chocolate Soleil)
ELF Studio Blush (Tickled Pink)
ELF Shimmering Facial Whip (Lilac Petal)
Starlooks Eyeliner (Obsidian)
 Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
Urban Decay Naked Palette
Maybelline Volum' Express Colossal (Black)

All brushes were from Sonia Kashuk or ELF Studio. So I use about 10 products, ranging from $3 to like, $50. I feel pretty good about that.

And drumroll please, here's a before and after:

Nothing too crazy, just polished up a little and less flat. Flatface, ew. The routine takes me five minutes max when I'm not talking to myself into a camera. Sweet mother I look tired without makeup.


Let me know if you have any questions on products or whatever!

5 Makeup Tips for Glasses-Wearers

Hey glasses-wearers, if you didn't figure it out from the title, this one's for you. I've had a loooooong history with glasses. I got my first pair in kindergarten, thanks to a raaaaging case of amblyopia, which is more commonly known as "lazy eye." The optometrist tried to correct it with the world's hugest glasses, which didn't work. Long story short, I lost almost all vision in my right eye. Even better is the fact that my left eye is nearsighted, which means I will have to wear glasses for forever.

And sometimes, when I'm really tired, I'll still go cross-eyed. It's very attractive. I call it my "bedroom eye." 

Another fun side effect is that I only have to buy contacts for one eye, which saves money and time. Although my husband makes fun of me mercilessly every time I only fill one side of the contacts case.

So when I'm not wearing my contact, my glasses are glued to my face. Usually first thing in the morning when I'm too tired and uncoordinated to poke a small lens into my eye. I just got new glasses a month or two ago -- you can see them here. I love 'em.

And while I love that glasses make it, you know, legal for me to drive, I don't love how they can sometimes magnify eye probs like puffiness and darkness. SO when I know I'm going to wearing my glasses out and about, I take special care with my eye makeup so it's all kosher and my glasses look more like an accessory and less like "It was the weekend and my eyes were tired and I was too lazy to put in a singular contact."

1. Brighten Up!

Darkness gets magnified by glasses, so make sure you conceal and brighten any dark spots. I always use a concealer that has a yellow or pink hue to counteract the blue and gray tones under the eye. But don't forget to brighten the upper lids too -- I feel like people often forget that when you're tired, your WHOLE eye area looks tired. After concealing, I dot a little shimmer (in pink or white) into the tear duct and then on the brow bone area.

eye brightener

2.Tame Your Brows

Fun fact: When I wear sunglasses and raise my eyebrows, I look JUST like my dad. Who my son thinks looks JUST like Tony Stark so basically I look like Robert Downey Jr.

ANYWAY, brows can look unkempt against the graphic shape of glasses, so make sure they're tamed. I wax mine and then cut 'em down because they are CRAZY. After that, I use a little hair pomade to put them into place and that's it. If you have sparse eyebrows -- which totally happened to me over the summer after a bad waxing incident -- fill 'em in with an eyebrow pencil first.

Also, I feel like a post on brow shaping may be in order. Yes?

eyebrow pencil

3. Get Matchy

No, don't match your eyeliner color to your frames, but DO match the thicknesses. It's the easiest way to create a proportional eye and make the whole process foolproof. If you have thin frames, you need thinner eyeliner to avoid looking like you're wearing a crapload of makeup. Thicker frames? Go for thicker eyeliner so your eyes don't get lost. My frames are a thick tortoiseshell so I like doing like, a plum liquid eyeliner. I used to wear thinner frames, though, and then I could get away with minimal liner and mascara.

eyeliner

4. Go Waterproof

Depending on how long your lashes are, they can leave annoying smudges on your glasses. And then you get all ragey. I have experience. Also, I find that I touch my eyes more when I wear glasses anyway, since I can take them off and rub my eyes -- not OK with contact(s). So I wear waterproof mascara when I'm also wearing glasses. No smudges. Also, no smudges when I sob watching YouTube videos of dogs meeting with their owners after they've been in Iraq. SO EMOTIONAL.

waterproof mascara

5. Wear Color

When in doubt, a bold lip balances out your face when you're wearing glasses.Whether you like a red or you'd rather go for some coral or pink, going for some color can help define your lips and make up for a lack of definition in the eye area. I prefer a gloss because lipstick gives me anxiety when it wears away. A stain works really well too!

red lip

So, where are my glasses-wearing girls? When I was a kid I was convinced that wearing glasses made me smarter, which explains why I peaked at like age 11 after I stopped wearing them regularly.

And yes, I still wear them when I want to look smart.

Back to School Beauty Reboot

 So are everyone's kids back in school? In Canada, kids didn't go back until the second week of September, so I think it's weird when I send mine back in the middle of August. It makes me feel decidedly less fall-ish when school is back and it's still like, 98 degrees outside.

Just the same, now that I'm a lady of leisure (and then we laughed and laughed) I feel like I need to spruce up my makeup routine from the low key beauty of the summer. Gone are the days when I could just slap on some lip gloss and put my hair in a side braid. Now I have to look like, presentable and stuff. So I decided it was time for a back to school beauty reboot. I still have one more summer activity planned, so it's definitely not fall yet -- but close enough.

Here's some of the stuff I'm doing to transition into a normal beauty routine once again.

1. Get a Haircut, Ya Hippie! 

 I was more than happy to have longer hair during the summer, especially because it spent most of the time in the water and sun. But come the end of August and it was fried. Like, really fried. The ends were all crispy and the color was off and I found myself wearing it in a bun all the time. And since my rule is that it gets cut if I wear it in a pony three days in a row, it was off to the salon. I got rid of all the dead stuff, got a healthier-looking color and I'm ready to be the most perfectly coiffed mom in the pickup line.

2. Paint Darker Polish

 At the beginning of the summer, my group of friends and I went out and got pedis for one of our friend's birthdays. We all ended up choosing the exact same color, which was a bright fluorescent coral. On summer toes, it was awesome and I think a lot of us went and bought the color ourselves. But now I'll be spending less time in flip flops than in flats so I'm rebooting with darker shades. I'm really into plum for toes right now.

3. New Makeup Colors

To be honest, I don't wear a ton of makeup in the summer. When I did, it was a bright pop of gloss and some mascara. But I definitely want some smokier colors now that it's a new season. I've learned the awesomeness of a navy smokey eye and I'm addicted. It's a quick way to update your makeup routine for cheap. 

4. Swap Glossy for Matte 

 I feel like I've said the word "gloss" like 900 times in this post. But seriously, when I was Maui I bought a Buxom gloss that I loooooove (PS having a Sephora right beside your resort is not a good idea). Problem is, it's more at home on the beach than having lunch with the girls or doing storytime at the library. Instead, I'm totally into these lip crayons. You get matte color and they're basically un-screwupable. That's a word. Google it.

Just keep them away from your kids because they will 100 percent want to play with them and color on your walls. And if your walls happen to made of log, like mine, it means SANDING it off.

5. Fix Your Face

Sun does a number on your skin, even if you're fastidious about the sunscreen like yours truly. I got this little miracle worker in my last ipsy bag and now I'm a diehard fan. It's a face mask that does some major exfoliation. Not gonna lie, it burns a bit when you first put it on. But afterwards -- buttah. I've used it once a week since I got it and my skin definitely looks smoother. A quickie 10-minute face mask can help tone down some of the sun damage you might have accrued during break.


Seriously guys, we're talking five simple tweaks to go from frazzled summer mom to calm and collected back to school mom. You've got this. Any other ways you make the switch?

My ipsy Review!

I have an awesome story to tell you! So last night we told the kids we were going to get snow cones and loaded them into my (finally fixed) Tahoe to find one. When we got to our usual spot, there was like, 3,000 people waiting in the line. And I don't know if you've ever waited in line for snow cones, but it lasts forever, thanks to the people who stand there for 10 minutes and ask questions like "What does peach taste like?"

So, in an effort to avoid mutiny from our kids, we decided to make a grocery store dash for some ice cream instead. I ran in by myself and picked up the following items:

- 2 pints of Ben & Jerry's
- 1 Dairy Milk bar
- 1 Bag of Milky Way Bites (my husband is obsessed)
- 1 Bag of Mint Milano cookies (they were on sale!)
- 1 US Weekly

As I loaded up all of my loot on the conveyor belt for the cashier, she started scanning the items and asked "How are you doing?"

"Fine, thanks -- how are you?"

"Good. But not as good as it looks like you're going to be tonight."

I then realized that she thought all of the stuff was for me. I started laughing "Um, I swear this isn't all for me. My kids are with my husband in the car."

"Oh, sure. It just looks like you're having some kind of spa night."

"Nope. Just getting treats for my kids."

She finished bagging my stuff and I ran my card because heaven forbid I ever carry cash. As I gathered up my bags, she handed over the receipt and said "Well, good luck on the breakup you're clearly going through."

When I got out to the car I was laughing so hard. I enjoyed that cashier's moxie and "Girls gotta stick together attitude." but I also liked her suggestions, so a girly spa night, breakup style sounded really good. Luckily, I had received my monthly ipsy bag yesterday afternoon, so I had a bunch of products to try. I put the kids to bed, filled the bath, queued up "Say Yes to the Dress" on my iPad and delved into my Dairy Milk while embracing the true product whore that I am.

Yesterday, when I posted a picture of my ipsy haul on Instagram, (this is what I got except the primer was switched for a nail polish) I got a ton of questions. And, since I love my ipsy subscription, I thought I'd give a little review. I'm not being paid for this. I just really love ipsy and want to spread that love.

So beauty subscription boxes are nothing new. But back in May, I made a list of things that would make non-crappy Mother's Day presents and included ipsy as one and I was totally sold. Before I purchased the subscription, I researched beauty boxes exhaustively. Like more than should be socially acceptable. I wanted a few things: Cheapness, a variety of products, premium sample sizes and beauty-centric stuff. After checking out BirchBox, Beauty Box 5 and a bunch of others, I finally settled on ipsy.

For $10, I get a little makeup bag with five products to try. Some are full-size and some are premium samples, which means they're miniature versions of the full size... not like, the little foil packages. For instance, this month I got a full-size nail polish, plus a pot of bronzer, a travel mascara, the world's most adorable miniature lipstick and a good-sized tube of facial mask.

When I first signed up, I gave some information about my beauty style, like how I love products, am pretty creative when it comes to colors and prefer makeup over hair stuff. ipsy then customized my bag out of 12 possible products for than month. I love that it lets me try brands that I probably wouldn't have tried on my own. This month had stuff from brands like Urban Decay, smashbox, Pixi and Michael Todd. I got the Michael Todd Pumpkin facial and it was amaaaaazing.

Do I think it's worth the $10? Absolutely. Honestly, it's worth the money to get something other than bills in the mail. I also love the little makeup bags that come with -- they're awesome for organizing my vanity and using for travel. However, in talking with one of my IG followers who uses BirchBox, she says it's better for skin and hair, while ipsy seems to be more about the makeup. There are also boxes for organic and vegan beauty too. Aaaaand thus concludes the only time I'll ever use the word "vegan" on my blog.

Anyway, I love my mail order makeup and I totally think it's worth it. Even if I don't love a color I'm sent, I pass them to my daughter who LOVES this mini lipsticks and stuff. And I already plan on buying a tub of that pumpkin facial, so I'm happy that I was introduced to the stuff.

Do you subscribe to a beauty box? I might be thinking about getting another and I'd love to hear more opinions!

Jae Raids the Drugstore

So it's been a while since I've done a JRTD! If you're new here, it's when I give you the benefit of my insane cheap cosmetic buying addiction to tell you what I loved and hated. Most of this stuff I bought at various drugstore-type places -- occasionally it'll be from a department or specialty store. As you should already know, no one pays me for this. Especially not the brands that I rail on instead of love. It's allll out of the goodness of my heart.

Rimmel London Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner

Can I just take a moment to express my deep and abiding love for this stuff? OK, so my eyeliner ran out and I am super picky about eyeliner. I hate when it's too hard and jabby and please don't say "That's what she said."

OK, fine, say it. Feel better now? You're disgusting.

Moving on. I grabbed this stuff honestly because I hate sharpening eyeliner pencils so I always grab the roll-up ones. And it is magical. It goes on so smooth that the first time I tried applying it I inadvertently put way too much on because I'm used to pressing hard. Instead, this is gel like and once it sets, it won't budge in the water. Which is great because I've spent the last week at various water features to keep my kids busy. It's only the second week of summer. Save me. Anyway, I loved it so much I bought it in both brown and black and since it was like $4, that's doable.

Sexy Hair Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Spray Mousse

Hello, lover. This Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Spray usually retails at about $17, but I bout a combo pack with the volumizing hairspray for that much at JC Penney so there you go. The hairspray is pretty major. Like, it will give you crazy 90s side poof if you let it. I like it for updos, but when I'm wearing my hair down, this root pump is my fave. It sprays on but then puffs up like a mousse. I just douse my roots with it before blowdrying my hair and it lasts forever. Totally worth the extra money.

e.l.f. Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick, Summer Nights

I really love this jumbo lipgloss stick for summer. It's smooth and non-sticky and just enough shimmer to go with a tan. I really liked it until I found that my son had rolled it up and smashed it into my bathroom counter. I made him clean it up and it took literally 30 minutes so there's a testament to how long it lasts. Luckily, I still have another one in red to play with. And SO cheap, which always makes me seriously happy.

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Flawless Definition Volumizing Mascara

OK, so I bought this BareMinerals mascara having never tried their mascara before. I love love the foundation, but I'm not gonna lie here -- I didn't love love this. It made my eyelashes a little spiky. And I don't really need length, I need thickening and this just didn't do it for me. I'm still waiting to find a mascara that trumps my beloved Diorshow, but it looks like another one bites the dust -- and I can add to my substantial collection of once-used mascaras. Huzzah!

Maybelline Color Whisper by Color Sensational

Zoooooomg you guys get ready for my favorite latest find. THIS STUFF! Maybelline Color Whisper. It's like a glossy lipstick that gives color without being like "OMG is this lipstick fading funny?" all day. I'm obsessed. I've bought a couple different colors, but I'm going to level with you here: Choosing colors with this stuff is kind of a crapshoot because they're SUPER DUPER sheer. Like, the color pretty much looks nothing like the cover or the stick. But the color is so sheer that it kind of doesn't matter. I got both a really bright pink and then a nude-y rose and they both look amazing. I've been carrying them with me everywhere because it's enough to perk up your face without being like I'M WEARING LIPSTICK EVERYONE!

Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo

Yeaaaah I tried this, but if you're a brunette you might want to look somewhere else. This stuff is WHITE. And the first time I used it, I used it just like my favorite -- Suave of all things -- and it left a giant white polka dot in my hair and it freaked my husband out because he thought I was going gray. Like, it's useable if you really brush it through, but it's probably best for blondes.

e.l.f. Studio Eyeliner and Shadow Stick

Hey, low maintenance girls -- I'm looking at you. I bought this in plum a month ago and just barely used it all up. Because I used it literally everyday. It's a nice smudgey eyeliner on one side and a super easy cream eyeshadow stick on the other. I usually wore it when I was going low key because I'd line my eyes and then smudge some of the shadow into the crease of my eyelid and I was done. Oh darn... looks like I'll need to do another order soon... whatever will I do...








Alright, that's my latest and greatest. Also, the not-so-greatest. I'm off to feed my children. WHY do they want food all day?